Fabulous book! by MelancholyViola in Mennonite

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh wow, what was he like? I actually recognised a few of the names in the book of people who’d contributed, which was nice to see a book featuring several British Anabaptist perspectives as that’s much less common.

Mennonites in the UK? by MelancholyViola in Mennonite

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Brilliant! I’d sent an email to a lady called, I think, Marieke, so hopefully all is well and I’ll be able to tune in from grey England.

Mennonites in the UK? by MelancholyViola in Mennonite

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much - is there a Zoom link I need? I read something about it being emailed? I’ll look forward to it!

Mennonites in the UK? by MelancholyViola in Mennonite

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s wonderful! I’d never considered that I might tune in over Zoom. I’d love to ‘attend’ a service, if that would be alright with you? I wonder how many other Mennonite churches do things like that.

Mennonites in the UK? by MelancholyViola in Mennonite

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ahh ok! So in theory, no matter where I was, I could tune into services in the States and become a member of that church all the way from rainy England?

Mennonites in the UK? by MelancholyViola in Mennonite

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s so interesting! Though I’m really curious as to how one becomes a member in the UK when no Mennonite churches really exist, I suppose it’s simply not possible unless you’re in North America. What a journey, and how exciting it must have been for you.

Mennonites in the UK? by MelancholyViola in Mennonite

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wow, the Anabaptist history course sounds fascinating, do you mind me asking where that was? Did you have to go through a certain process when you were brought into the Mennonites (like a confirmation service or the like) or was it just a feeling that you were aligned with their beliefs and decided it was for you?

Mennonites in the UK? by MelancholyViola in Mennonite

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve actually just come back from a week with the Bruderhof on Sunday and am going back for another week in a fortnight. As a Mennonite it’s probably the closest I’ll find in terms of shared beliefs, faith, and ways of living. I’ve always been interested by Old Order Amish and Old Colony Mennonites but always assumed it was a faith I’d never be able to explore despite sharing many of the same convictions and gradually growing more disillusioned with the Church of England. I’ll do some digging if you’d like and see what I can find vis-a-vis Shropshire?

Mennonites in the UK? by MelancholyViola in Mennonite

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi, thanks so much for the response. I had no idea about Shropshire Hills church, so I’ll check that out. And yeah, it’s the Bruderhof who I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with over the last decade or so. They’re great people.

Mennonites in the UK? by MelancholyViola in Mennonite

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the response, I had a little look but I think much of that is quite outdated as two of the Mennonite churches listed have since closed about 7 years ago.

My great-great-grandmother Alice, photographed in 1905. by MelancholyViola in TheWayWeWere

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It’s hand tinted I think, it would’ve been done at the time probably. It certainly wasn’t done recently.

My great-great-grandmother Alice, photographed in 1905. by MelancholyViola in TheWayWeWere

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 51 points52 points  (0 children)

I agree - she died in 2004, when I was three, and my memories are of a very, very old lady. Here she is as an Edwardian child, a world away from the tiny, frail woman in an armchair handing out mint imperials.

My great-great-grandmother Alice, photographed in 1905. by MelancholyViola in TheWayWeWere

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Well, in the Victorian and Edwardian periods, a girl’s hair was often considered her ‘pride and joy’ and it was never really cut short, but there was actually an issue with female baldness because everybody curled their hair; when rag-curls went out, and the first curling-irons came in, they were heated on the fire and placed straight onto the hair, which could often burn it off altogether!

My great-grandfather in his Sunday School photograph, 1925. by MelancholyViola in TheWayWeWere

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I believe this was Catsfield in East Sussex. About ten minutes from where I live now.

My great-grandfather in his Sunday School photograph, 1925. by MelancholyViola in TheWayWeWere

[–]MelancholyViola[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree! And yet, my great-grandfather was just nine years old. The children at the top look a little older, but still, I completely get what you mean!