AUDIO

Interview with Gwen Johnson

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Date

22 Nov 2000 - 22 Nov 2002

By

Johnson, Gwendolyn Beatrice, 1918-

Reference

OHInt-0593/30

Description

Gwen Johnson was born in London in 1918. Talks of her grandfather and father being Methodist ministers and her religious background, the influence of Rev. Morley Jones and outdoor carol singing in Birmingham. Recalls running a youth club at the outbreak of war, changes in membership, riding bicycles, passion plays, the visit to the Methodist youth clubs service in London at the end of the war. Recalls joining the Upper Hutt Uniting Parish when it was being formed. Talks of joint denominational Easter and Christmas programmes, also a joint choir with St Hilda's Anglican Church, and her attitude to prayer. Mentions Baptists. Talks of various churches in the parish and pulling down St. Andrew's. Explains about food banks and the referral system for counselling, Celebrate Jesus 2000 and relates how local denominations work together for the Alpha programme. Explains her children's grounding in the church and her role as church camp leader. Relates the effect of her husband's early death from cancer, his burial on her birthday and the surprise party the following year. Explains the making of peace banners partly in memory of her husband, tying them to the American and Russian embassies during the Cold War and at an Upper Hutt mall. Talks of peace group members and their role in getting Upper Hutt made nuclear free. Describes milk, bread and postal deliveries in early Stokes Valley. Details the parish's outreach mentioning recreational activities at the Wesley Centre, Boys' and Girls' Brigades, the family care programme and OSCAR held in part of Elderslea Hospital. Mentions the purchase of the Bible Church in Exchange Street. Mentions ministers Graeme McIver and Anne Stevenson, also family counsellor Marianne Lester.

Interviewer(s) - Elaine Bolitho

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-009277

Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s) - printed. 1 Electronic document(s) - transcript. 1 interview(s). 1 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-2993, OHDL-000949.

Portrait photograph taken at the time of the interview

Additional description

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copy OHLC-004770

Both printed and digital versions of the transcript are available

Use/Reproduction

Public use may require the permission of copyright holder Copyright: Held by Elaine Bolitho

Access restrictions

Partly restricted material

Part of

Upper Hutt Uniting Parish Millennium Project

Format

1 C60 cassette(s), 1 transcript(s) - printed, 1 Electronic document(s) - transcript, 1 interview(s), 1 Hours Duration, Oral histories, Electronic records (Digital records), Electronic documents, Illustration: Portrait photograph taken at the time of the interview, Equipment used: Sony WM-D6C: with Sony ECM clip-on microphones

There are 3 items in total.

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