180 years of CPAS 1836-2016
a snapshot from the cpas archives
How it all began CPAS had its beginning in a heartfelt response to the burden placed on parish priests by the industrial revolution in early 19th Century Britain. In 1836, parishes in fast-growing towns and cities were bursting at the seams. It was decided that there must be provision for these parishes where numbers had swelled if local churches were to be equipped to do God’s work and share the gospel. As a result, the Church Pastoral Aid Society began life as a grantmaking organisation, providing money for extra lay and ordained workers to support the work of the local churches in the face of the seismic social change.
Lord Shaftesbury Anthony Ashley-Cooper, the seventh Earl of Shaftesbury, was one of the founders of CPAS. A politician and philanthropist, he is best known for his strong social reform, including the introduction of legislation restricting and banning the employment of children in factories, mines and as chimney sweeps. This interest in the effects of the industrial revolution, combined with his firm evangelical Christian belief, drove his fervent philanthropy and personal involvement in over thirty charities. When speaking of his work as President of CPAS in his diary he wrote: ‘I never was called by God’s mercy, to so happy and blessed a work as to labour on behalf of this Society and preside at its head.’ It seems fitting then that he remained President until his death aged 84 in 1885.
Lord Shaftesbury, the first President of CPAS.
enabling mission since
1836
The images contained in the following pages tell something of the CPAS family history, each containing a story of people who were aided by or served through our mission-enabling work during the past 180 years.
Praise God for his faithfulness over the decades and how he has used CPAS to bring many more people of all ages into his glorious kingdom. I hope you enjoy this insight into our vast archive of published annuals and magazines, press cuttings and photographs. It is a privilege to share some of these CPAS memories with you. John Dunnett, CPAS General Director
The Early Days
Above, left to right: The CPAS office was at Falcon Court in Fleet Street, London, until we moved to Warwick in 1990. Lady Dynevor was the first President of the Ladies Home Mission Union (LMHU), created in 1889. St Peter’s Derby was the first church to receive support from CPAS to employ a curate ‘to reach the 8,000 souls of the parish’.
RESOURCING PARISH OUTREACH CPAS was founded with a vision to take ‘the gospel to every man’s door, with a single eye to the glory of God.’ For many decades this was furthered through the making of grants to enable parishes to employ extra lay and ordained workers in fast-growing urban parishes.
A 1925 Ladies Home Mission Union (LHMU) conference in High Leigh, Hoddesdon.
A map of Birmingham plotting mission activities which took place during 1913.
Mission Band at St Paul’s Gold’s Hill, Wolverhampton, in 1896.
’But for the help your Society gives, it is very probable that I should have to resign.’ 04
Grant recipient in 1889
The open air pulpit in use at St Mary’s Whitechapel, 1895.
Tea party in aid of CPAS at Christ Church Blackburn in 1910.
Institution of the first vicar at St Barnabas’ York, created out of an existing CPAS parish in 1912.
The 1913 Keswick convention, attended by a group of 80 CPAS representatives.
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CPAS was at the forefront of helping churches become more effective in sharing the gospel in a variety of ways, including the start of holidays for young people which were originally known as Fresh Air Fund camps.
Girls in front of their tent on a Fresh Air Fund holiday in 1926.
a flourishin ‘My little brother and I gave our whole selves to Jesus’ Fresh Air Fund camper, 1924
A 1925 Ladies Home Mission Union (LHMU) conference in High Leigh, Hoddesdon.
This tea with visitors Mr and Mrs Honeybourne is on a camp in 1926.
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CPAS centenary birthday celebrations, as reported by the Torquay Times in 1936.
ng ministry Church display about CPAS holiday camps at St John’s Carlisle, 1954.
Executive and General Committee chairmen, Mr Bevington and Mr Lambert, leaving Victoria Street, London, after a CPAS committee meeting in 1952.
1954 cover of CPAS publication Church and People, showing the image of a boys’ camp.
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MID-CENTURY MISSION Over the years CPAS has exercised a national leadership role among Anglican evangelicals. In addition to involvement with vocations work, evangelism and CYPECS, CPAS has overseen the production of some of the most significant resources of the period including Youth Praise, Michael Botting’s Family Worship and Journey into Life by Norman Warren.
Boys in the canoe are on an expedition from Burstow holiday camp.
Girls enjoying tea on holiday in 1953.
Girls in the pool at a CPAS holiday in 1955.
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Clergy wives and secretaries gather in York, 1960.
CPAS display at Christ Church Roxeth, February 1952.
The Rt Rev Maurice Wood on a wherry boat for a Broads Cruise Venture in the early 70s, where we still run holidays today.
On 5 March 1966, Michael Baughen (later Bishop of Chester) leads the singing at the first Youth Praise rally. Central Hall Westminster was packed to hear this collection of new worship songs, with the book selling out on the first night. Youth Praise went on to influence worship in churches around the country and overseas, and the second edition’s launch filled the Royal Albert Hall twice in one day!
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INTO THE MODERN ERA The gospel commitment of CPAS over the past 180 years continues to shape our endeavours to support the mission of local churches. In the 21st Century this focuses on equipping and resourcing lay and ordained leaders for kingdombuilding work across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
The Rt Rev Graham Leonard, Bishop of London, ordaining the first 71 women as deacons on 22 March 1987, including Doreen Begernie who was head of women’s action at CPAS.
Limpsfield holiday 1988, a forerunner of the current CPAS Haslemere Ventures.
CPAS has been a prolific resource provider over the years. Notably CYPECS resources were created for groups of children and young people in churches nationwide. Here, CPAS staff Helen Thomas and Doreen Clarke hold a new copy of the Pathfinder News pack.
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The Most Rev George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, at the opening of the news CPAS office at Tachbrook Park, Warwick, on 7 May 1991. He is photographed along with Eileen Carey (his wife), the Rt Rev Simon Barrington-Ward (Bishop of Coventry) and John Moore (CPAS General Director).
‘I look back on where I was 18 months ago and rejoice in the changes God has worked within me.’ Arrow 13 Participant
CPAS invests in leaders to equip them for mission. One way we do this is through the Arrow Leadership Programme, which has been led by James Lawrence since 1999.
Patronage work was undertaken by the General Director until 1988 when Ian Savile was appointed as CPAS’ first Patronage Secretary. St Luke’s Watford is one of over 522 patronage churches we work with today.
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‘I hear story after story of how CPAS has energised and enabled the witness of local church leaders and the churches to which they belong.’ The Rt Rev Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol
‘CPAS has a wonderful track record since 1836 of serving local parish churches and of working with their leaders to enable the church to share the Christian faith in our land.’ The Rt Rev Andrew Watson, Bishop of Guildford
‘There are very few mission organisations who have managed to impact the Church of England to the same degree as CPAS.’ The Rt Rev Paul Williams, Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham
Many images provided courtesy of the Cadbury Research Library (Special Collections), University of Birmingham. Please contact CPAS for further details.
www.cpas.org.uk info@cpas.org.uk
0300 123 0780
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