South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 24 January 1942

First Broadcast from Mexborough

Parish Church Preparations

Mexborough’s ancient Parish Church will bring its traditions, steadily accumulated over a period of nearly a thousand years, right up to date on Sunday morning when for three quarters of hour it will hold the attention of millions of radio listeners throughout the British Isles and probably much farther afield.

Morning service in the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Home Service programme from 9.30 to 10.15 will come from Mexborough

The Archdeacon of Doncaster, the Rev. W. Stannard, was asked to read the service, and with the sanction of the Bishop of Sheffield (Doctor L.S. Hunter), Mexborough Parish Church was chosen. It is thus fitting that the town’s first brokers will come from its oldest institution.

For a broadcast of this kind considerable preparation is needed. The church has been linked by telephone wires to the control point from which the service will go on to the air and during the service B.B.C. technicians will be stationed in the vestry where they will listen in on a loudspeaker of their own and will those be in a position to make any small adjustments which reception suggests.

The acoustic properties of the church have been found highly satisfactory for the broadcast. It is a tribute to the thoroughness of the B.B.C. that the small details including choice of music, hymn sheets and other incidental to the success of the broadcast have received close attention. B.B.C. and Post Office engineers have been in consultation and operation with the Vicar of Mexborough, the Rev. E. H. P. Rawlins, during the last fortnight, and the arrangement will undergo a preliminary test at 3.15 p.m. on Saturday, when a complete rehearsal is to be held in the church which will give the B.B. C. engineers opportunity for finally deciding on the best positions for the three microphones which are to be used various parts of the Church.

The service, a shortened form of matins will be conducted by the Vicar of Mexborough and the address will be given by Archdeacon Stannard, who will also pronounce the closing prayers. Hymns and psalm and canticles have been chosen with a view to a congregational service. Mr Leonard Fletcher will be the organist. The Vicar is very anxious that there should be a large congregation to take part in the brokers. As the service is earlier than the usual morning service there will also be a service at the church at 11 a.m. for the children and any others who may find it impossible to attend the broadcast service.

In order to fit in with the Parish Church broadcast, Saint Georges Church are relying the service at 930 and to facilitate this there will be Holy Communion at Saint Georges at 9 a.m.