Fifty years service as a minister has just been completed by the Rev R H Parsons, of Bethel Church, East-the-Water, Bideford, and the occasion was celebrated by a family social gathering at the Bethel on Monday, November 4th.
Beginning his career in 1896 as an Evangelist, Mr Parsons took over a Mission Hall at Sudbrook, and later returned to London to join the Lectures Department of the National Sunday School Union, and worked with the Mission at Paradise Row, Stockwell. In 1905 he was appointed secretary of the All Nations Missionary Union, and in 1906 he was baptised and ordained, and went to the North Brixton Baptist Church. Mr Parsons came to Bethel in 1933, where he will be long remembered for his organisation and energy in the improvement schemes he has put into force. He was also responsible for the formation of the Bideford Veteran’s Club, which was founded to provide shelter and recreation for the old men congregating round Bideford Bridge, and has now a membership of thirty.
At Mr Parsons’ jubilee gathering, the principal speaker was Rev G F Dempster, a former colleague of Mr Parsons and later Welfare Superintendant of the British Sailors’ Society. He preached to a large congregation on the Sunday morning and evening.
On the Monday evening the chair was taken by Mr Horace Mann, Barnstaple, who gave a much appreciated address. All were delighted to welcome again the Rev R Pyke, who led with the Scriptures and commendary prayer. Mr W T Braddick, president of the Bideford and District Free Church Federal Council, brought greetings from that body, and the Rev Bertram F Hardy (Appledore Baptist0 spoke on behalf of the clergy and ministers’ fraternals, of which Mr Parsons has been secretary for thirteen years.
Mrs Parsons received gifts from the various societies of the Church, and then gifts from friends were received. Members and friends of Bethel had already given a handsome gift to Mr and Mrs Parsons.
The Rev B Headlam, who worked with Mr Parsons in Brixton and Battersea some forty years before, paid a surprise visit from London, and spoke in high esteem of his association with Mr Parsons.
At the close of the inspiring evening, ladies of the Church provided refreshments.