Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 02 August 1941

Vicar to go to Bristol

For the next ten days, Mexborough will be without its Vicar, the Rev. E. H. P. Rawlins, who, with the Parish Church staff, has undertaken to relieve the Vicar of a bombed parish in Bristol for a month.

He left Mexborough on Monday, accompanied by Mr. Frank Ball, a Divinity student at Leeds University, who will assist him during the first fortnight.

On his return the duties will be taken over by the assistant priests, the Rev. G. Bernard and the Rev. Laurence.

In his monthly letter In the Parish Magazine, the Vicar refers to his temporary parish as follows:

” The Parish Church has been destroyed add the vicarage damaged. There is a good deal to do on Sundays, and a skeleton of the usual parochial organisations to keep going during the week. More than anything else, the staff of a parish like that need a rest and I am sure you will spare us in order that we may give a helping hand.”

The gesture is one which will certainly appeal to parishioners as a most valuable example of war-time service, and though it is hoped that Mr. Rawlins and his staff will be favoured with quiet nights, we shall all be glad to see them back with this self-appointed task safely completed.