Étaples Weekly Reports

Étaples Weekly Reports – 4th November, 1915

Museum of the Order of St John

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In his report dated 4th November 1915, Chief Commissioner Clark reports that after a quiet few weeks, the Hospital is “now in full swing”.  The main point raised in his report regards Mr. Gower whom the Order would like to appoint as the Hospital’s Chaplin. However, Clark feels that this is unnecessary and would perhaps cause friction with the military authorities who he states will not recognise Mr. Gower unless he has received a Commission as an Army Chaplain.

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Army Post Office S. 11,

British Expeditionary Force,

France.

4/11/15.

 

The Director,

The Ambulance Department,

The Order of St. John of Jerusalem

In England.

 

My Lord,

I did not send any letter last week as there was nothing

of importance to report. We are now in full swing and the work

of the Hospital goes on automatically from day to day.

The only point I have to bring to Your Lordship’s notice,

and that of the Finance and General Purposes Committee is, the

question of the Chaplain.

I presume my letters on this subject to Sir Dyce

Duckworth and Mr. Edwards have been laid before the Committee.

I am afraid unless Mr. Gower receives a Commission as

an Army Chaplain he will not be recognised out here not will he

be allowed to take up any work here. As a matter of fact there

is now no need for a Clergyman to be sent out, more than half the

Orderlies serving in the Hospital are Presbyterean and Non-Conform-

ist and provision has to be made for their services as well as for

the Church of England. I enclose the list of services that were

held last Sunday and which will be held on future Sundays. For

the purpose the Patients Recreation Room is used which will seat

three or four hundred. For Religious ministrations to the patients

of the Church of England one of the Army Chaplains here has been

officially told off, he also takes the Church of England services.

The other denominations are likewise ministered to by the Army

Chaplain of their respective denominations.

 

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The Chaplains Department is entirely under Military

control and no Clergy except Army Chaplains are recognised or

allowed to perform religious duty within the war zone.

Under these circumstances I think it will be inadvis-

able to press the matter of a special Chaplain for the Order

unless he can be given the Military standing recognised by the

Authorities.

In any case he will have to seek lodgings for himself

in Etaples as, as Your Lordship may remember, it was unanimously

agreed by the Finance & General Purposes Committee that the

Chaplain should not be a member of the Hospital staff or reside

in the Hospital, and consequently no provision was made for his

accommodation.

Sir John Furley visited the Hospital on Monday; he went

carefully all over and seemed much pleased with what he saw.

 

I have the honour to be,

Your Lordship’s

Obedient servant

James Clark

 

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CHURCH SERVICES

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Sunday 31st October 1915.

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Church of England.

Holy Communion 7-0 a.m. at Liverpool M.M. Hospital.

Morning Service 11 a.m. in Convalescent’s Hall. St J.A.B. Hospital

Holy Communion 12 midday in Orderly Room, Administration Block.

St J.A.B. Hospital

Evening Service 8-30 p.m. in Convalescent’s Hall. St J.A.B. Hospital

 

Roman Catholics.

Holy Mass 10 a.m. in Officers’ Recreation Tent, No.1. Canadian Hospital.

 

Presbyterian.

Morning Service 10 a.m. in Recreation Tent, No. 1. Canadian Hospital

 

Wesleyan & Nonconformist.

Morning Service 9-30 a.m. in Y.M.C.A. Hut No.1.

Evening Service 7-0 P.M. in Convalescent’s Hall, St J.A.B. Hospital

 

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