I wrote a photo essay called 'I Was a Teenage Christian: Church Youth Culture in Liverpool' for 10 Million Hardbacks, which went up today. A short excerpt:
I went to church every Sunday – usually twice – but I also went to a youth event at Gordon Hall in the town centre most Saturday nights, and to an informal Bible study at the house of one of the church members on a weekday, where the photo below was taken. It’s the opposite of what you’d expect: not sedate contemplation, but barely controlled chaos. Obviously this was after the ‘official’ part of the evening had ended.
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2 comments:
Hi Jonathan
I just read your piece entitled "I was a Teenage Christian" - and it brought back so many (happy) memories!
Like you, I attended a Brethren Church (Newsham Park Chapel in L6, there from birth to when I finished at Sheffield Uni) and went to MCYC for 6 years, attending 7 camps between 1983 and 1988, a mix of Senior, Campex and Bible Study. Therefore, we would possibly have been at the same camp at least once, I think.
I used to love the concert at the end of the week; as Newsham was a very small church for teenagers in general, I'd often join with the likes of West Derby or Southport and perform skits, often inspired by events of the week, dressing up as leaders and campers and making up songs. My most memorable song was one we sung to the tune of
"Where do you go to, my lovely?"
and commented on the strict Camp Commander, Steve Bedford. If I recall, the lyrics were something like:
"Where do you go to, Steve Bedford
When you're alone in your tent?
Do you go looking for campers
Who dare to sneak off the site
- For a drink
- An' a smoke'
- An' a laugh
Ha ha ha ha!"
We also did a skit spoofing differing study Bibles around at the time (which was led by a South African bloke, whose accent we mocked), the culmination of which was a camper sitting on a toilet with a crate of Coke next to him [the speaker said it was good to find a "quiet place, with hydration"] ruminating on which Study Bible to use.
"I've got my Strong's 'cos I'm strong;
me Young's 'cos I'm young ...
but I can't find my Cruden's anywhere!"
Well, I guess you had to be there, but it was hilarious at the time.
And the outings to places, the silly sports competitions and the "vegetable prep", which always meant peeling potatoes. I live in America now, so there is nobody to reminisce with directly.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane - and I'll check out your L19 book!
Andy Price
Newsham Park Chapel (1966 - 1988, MCYC 1983-88)
Someone who knows Steve Bedford said he read the essay too! And is apparently in one of the photos.
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