Quick questions and (maybe) answers Hertford Memories thread

[fra828]

I can remember Nellie (Norman) and Miss Rutherford at early morning Sunday communion, which I occasionally(!) went to after being confirmed. Going back to subject of clothing, I cannot remember the scarves at all , but the grey gaberdine belted macs and blue Harris Tweed coats were practical and ok ish fashion-wise for 60/early 70's. Did the girls still wear them after DR's time? ...Gaberdine macs in the 80's- not so trendy!

[Pixie]

I'm amazed that you can all remember so much about all the religious stuff at CH. I silently objected to having to attend chapel services every weekday and TWICE on Sundays so I spent most of the time in chapel daydreaming. I refused to be confirmed as I didn't want to attend yet another Sunday service. I have never subscribed to the idea that you have to be religious to be a good person anyway. Since leaving CH I have only attended church for weddings, christenings and funerals both here and in Jordan where my husband is a member of the Latin Church. Is there anyone else on here who was actually put off religion by CH's approach, like me?
Having said all that, annoyingly, I can still remember many of the hymns we sang!

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Now that the Girls are enduring the rigours of Horsham ------ Are they provided with Macs ?

The only "Headgear" avaiable to us, was the School scarf with one end pushed in -- to form a woolly hat --- I'm sure that is done today ---- but MACS ???

I think the picture of the Chapel Hat looks quite nice -- but then I never had to wear one.

Apropos Priests wearing Birettas --- if spelled BERETTA it is an Italian pistol !

[Kim2s70-77]

Neill - a chapel cap was a bit like a beanie, in navy blue with gold piping and the school crest on the front. I have one here somewhere, but not sure that I have the technical expertise to photograph it, save the photo to the computer and e-mail it. However perhaps someone else has - I think my daughter Maria also has one. I shall explore the possibilities when we are in Finland at Easter. I love the idea of some primitive form of contraception - as if we at Hertford would ever have had the opportunity to require such a thing! However, in a warped sort of way I guess it was, because we were never allowed to set foot outside outside the school gates (or of course in chapel - St Paul strikes again!) without donning these incredibly unattractive garments - guaranteed to scare off any interested male out there in the 'real' world. Even the monitresses who delivered mail to the staff houses across the road had to wear a hat to do so.

Does anyone else remember 'The Talk' by Dr Jory, in Upper VI, just prior to leaving??? He was clearly mortified at having to discuss sex with us at all, but proceeded bravely to discuss contraceptive methods. In the end he came up with some very amusing anecdotes, including the woman who religiously inserted the cap every night,removed in the a.m., became pregnant and later admitted her husband worked night shift etc. He talked of less intellectually well-endowed (at least that's how I understood it at the time - not being too familiar with many other sorts of endowment (other than fiancial))people, who heard him explain how to use a condom via a demonstration on a broom handle inserted into the ground. Drove around the village later, only to observe broomsticks in many yards, with latex wafting in the breeze. I believe he even joked of the pill ('Place between the knees' etc). It was the first time in 7 years that I realised that Dr Jory was human!!

[J.R.]

............. and us older OB's had the pleasures (?) of Doc Mathews three talks in the science lecture hall at Horsham

[Katharine]

Kim - I've come over all faint at the idea of such a talk. Quick, pass me the smelling salts - we were obviously among the last of the pure and innocent young maidens!!!

[Jo]

I'm amazed that you can all remember so much about all the religious stuff at CH. I silently objected to having to attend chapel services every weekday and TWICE on Sundays so I spent most of the time in chapel daydreaming. I refused to be confirmed as I didn't want to attend yet another Sunday service. I have never subscribed to the idea that you have to be religious to be a good person anyway. Since leaving CH I have only attended church for weddings, christenings and funerals both here and in Jordan where my husband is a member of the Latin Church. Is there anyone else on here who was actually put off religion by CH's approach, like me?
Having said all that, annoyingly, I can still remember many of the hymns we sang!

Oh, yes, yes, yes. A thousand times yes. Combined with being brought up in a vicarage and having to go to church every Sunday at home too.

But to be honest, if it was just teenage rebellion I don't think I would have stayed agnostic for so long since. So I don't think it was just a CH-created aversion, I think I would have abandoned it all sooner or later anyway.

[Angela Woodford]

I seem to remember Miss Morrison sitting in the seat in front of DR.

Both DR and Chemi T would genuflect too. Kerren, would you know if DR was high church? I presume Mary Thompson was Roman Catholic. Certainly the Rev. Walkers home church, St john the Baptist at Great amwell was very "belly and smelly".

I seem to remember DR as very low church. I was always given to understand that the reason she insisted on taking some of our confirmation classes herself was because she was the opposite end of the churchmanship scale from Mr Walker, who was very high church.

Romish practices! I never liked to tell my evangelical mother that the choir turned to face east for the Creed, that the Communion Table was called the altar, that DR, on crossing the aisle would pause and give a curt nod (to let God know it was acceptible for Him to turn up?) and that nobody declared that they were Saved by accepting the Lord Jesus into their heart. DR had even been encouraging a group of girls to play cards! The Devil's Playthings! I daren't think how upset my mother would have been.

No Young Womens' Fellowship at CH! No Prayer Meetings... no Scripture Union or Billy Graham. I never mentioned the rush back from Chapel to catch the Top Ten of Alan Freeman's Pick of the Pops - that wouldn't have gone down well at home. I admit that, before CH, I'd been utterly exhausted by Jesus.

I was quite grateful to have got away to CH where the religious pressures were lifted.

[midget]

I found it all quite exciting! There had never been any religion in my life before CH, except for a few visits to the village chapel while I was evacuated, as the family I stayed with were not religious. Mothe and older daughter went chapel on one occasion. " there's happy we are to see Mrs and Miss thomas with us after such a long time" said the Reverend Jeremiah from the pulpit. "Serves you bl00dy right for going at all" said younger daughter.

I had been baptised as a Methodist, giving rise to much discussion as to whether it had "taken" properly when I wanted to be confirmed.

[MaryB]

No Prayer Meetings... no Scripture Union or Billy Graham. .

Wasn't there a "revival" in the early 70s, not long after we left? Worship meetings in the Science Block basement? Or did I just imagine hearing about it?

[Angela Woodford]

I'd be fascinated to hear about this!

Worship meetings in Sin City? Where the cool set had played progressive rock at high volume! Amazing.

[anniexf]

... no Scripture Union
I was quite grateful to have got away to CH where the religious pressures were lifted.

I got signed up for the Scripture Union almost as soon as I set foot in 8s!! A senior girl, Ruth Crockett, was the Ward "rep" and I was presented with a closely-printed folding card with an enormous list of readings to undertake, which scared me silly!

For me the religious pressures seemed intense - on your knees at 7.15am for Ward prayers, morning chapel, graces before and after every meal, evening prayers, chapel twice on Sundays, in best clothes ( and Sundays were the drabbest, most miserable of days, so many enforced silences). I felt a real heathen!

[Fjgrogan]

Somebody (Angela, I think?) mentioned the practice of turning to face east (because that is where the altar was) to say the Creed. I had a bit of a problem over this recently, because in our church Communion is normally celebrated on the table between the choir and the congregation. The choir however still follow the tradition of turning towards the altar for the Creed (although the vicar doesn't) thus turning their backs to the communion table, which seems odd to me. For the congregation there is no problem, but when I was licensed as a Reader and found myself sitting in the choir stalls, I had to make a conscious decision whether or not I would turn! I chose not to because it seemed disrespectful to turn my back to the communion table. The vicar has never commented. Certain members of the choir would do so if they realised but of course they are unaware because I am behind them! I don't suppose that God minds in the slightest!!

[Jo]

No Prayer Meetings... no Scripture Union or Billy Graham. .

Wasn't there a "revival" in the early 70s, not long after we left? Worship meetings in the Science Block basement? Or did I just imagine hearing about it?

Yes there was. I don't know about the Science Block basement, but there was a very sinister (in my view) and pernicious God Squad movement that ran through the school around that time. It filled up young minds with all sorts of poisonous nonsense such as speaking in tongues, led by people who should have known better. Virtually everyone in my house, except me and a couple of others, was drawn in to some degree.

After one of the meetings, someone came to me and said there had been a message from god at the meeting that although I pretended to be agnostic, I was really a christian but suppressing it. I can't explain how angry I felt at the presumption and impertinence. I don't think it would be too strong to describe it as feeling spiritually raped. Angry? I was f*****g furious

[kerrensimmonds]

I'm sorry about all of that , Jo, and understand how you well might have justifiably felt angry.But can you define the extent to which the school itself (The Religious Royal and Ancent Foundation) might have been responsible?