The People File – Miss Ethel Dunkerley
Life Deacon
Miss Ethel Dunkerley
is a Greenacres lady through and through. Having been born just across the
border in Derker, she moved as a young child to Balfour Street, and then at the
age of 16 to Hollinhall Street. In that street, Ethel has now lived for some 71
years, but her connection with Greenacres Congregational Church goes back even
further! Ethel was first taken to Church as a two year old. And in the years
that have passed since, Ethel has put the work of a small army into the cause
at Greenacres. Her devotion and faithfulness over the years are a marvel to
behold and an example to follow.
It
all began in the humble surroundings of the Sunday School classrooms. Having
graduated herself through the Sunday School, Ethel began to teach in the
Primary Department. Twelve months later, she progressed to the Junior
Department and after a short time became their Superintendent. When the Junior
and Intermediary Departments merged Ethel was asked to take on the
responsibility of Superintendent on a temporary basis – a temporary basis that
lasted some 25 years! Of course, these were the days when Sunday School was
held on a Sunday afternoon, and was the second trip of three visits to church
on the Sabbath. And Ethel’s participation on those other two occasions – Sunday
morning and Sunday evening worship – was just as wholehearted, as for 54 years
she was a member of the Church choir. For 10 years Ethel served the Church as
Pulpit Supply Secretary, and along with her lifelong friend, Miss Hilda
Harding, was Missionary Secretary for 35 years.
Ethel
became a Church Member at the age of seventeen, and this year is her 70th
anniversary. In any account of Church history that is indeed a remarkable feat
that few people achieve. In 1951 Ethel was nominated to stand as a Deacon at
the forthcoming Annual General Church Meeting, where she was duly elected. On
the first Sunday in January 1952 Ethel was welcomed into the office of Deacon,
and so began 32 years of service over 8 elected terms of office. When she gave
notice in 1984 that she would not be standing for re-election the Church was so
moved by her selfless service that they made her a Life Deacon. Ethel has
continued to take a keen interest in the work of the Deacons and from time to
time still attends a meeting.
After
her retirement from work some 27 years ago, Ethel joined the Ladies Guild.
Since 1991 Ethel has organised and led the fortnightly meetings, and kept a
close eye on their yearly activities.
Another
post-retirement activity was lay preaching. This all began when a local preacher
was due to fill the pulpit at Greenacres but at the last moment pulled out. He
rang Ethel and told her that she would have to fill the breach. Ethel did so,
but then vowed that if she was ever to preach again she needed some training.
She received that training from Rev Gordon Taylor’s Lay Preaching class, taught
in the Manse at Greenacres. And once she had received her certificate she was a
local lay preacher for 10 years, helping to fill the pulpit at Delph, Dobcross,
Uppermill, Hope, Ashton Road and other local Congregational Churches on
numerous occasions.
And
it’s not just Greenacres Congregational Church that has benefited from a
lifetime of Christian service. As well as being actively involved in the Oldham
Federation of Congregational Churches – where she was Chairwoman for a year,
Ethel has always kept a keen interest in regional and national affairs of her
denomination. She has also been a leading light in the Free Church movement in
Oldham, being treasurer of the Women’s Council for 19 years and its President
in 1988/89, and President of the Oldham Free Church Federal Council in 1990/92.
Ethel has also been a member of a local Christian Endeavour group for the past
15 years.
Ethel
has been a terrific servant for Greenacres Congregational Church. And she can
still be found on the front row at every quarterly Church Meeting, on the back
row for every Sunday service and first in the queue for tickets for all other
events at Greenacres. She even tells me that she’ll be at the next Line Dancing
Evening – though just as a spectator this time!
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