Looking Back. Looking Ahead.
It’s interesting where a train of thought can lead to.
As the new magazine team considered changing the look, layout and content of this magazine, we thought it would be appropriate to look at its’ history. And what a history!
I expected to interview a couple of previous editors, which I did, and look at some older issues, which I also did, but I did not expect the journey to lead back to 1900!
This humble magazine has been dreamt up; researched; type-written; edited; copy and pasted; printed; bound; and read and read and read for at least 115 years. It has been an absolute pleasure to look at its’ journey, its’ history, its’ changes; but also how we as a church have not really changed at all.
Yes, the technology has changed and, as a result, some of the stories are solely relevant to the time of print, but the actual content does not truly di er as the pages are turned over a century.
The oldest issue that I was able to get my hands on (though not necessarily the oldest issue) opens in January 1900. It is a beautiful bound book that contains every issue for the year, and it starts with… the notices. Names, dates and events for a congregation that is no longer with us are found on the first page of every issue. Just like the magazines of recent days, it was to inform the congregation of the goings on of an active church. As the pages are turned it is clear that the members of the church were interested in a note from the Pastor (or 3); a brief bible commentary; fictional stories, some that were long enough to be separated into a chapter per issue; a service synopsis for those unable to attend church; advice for children and a regular article “For the Busy Housewife” that contains tips and tricks for running the home.
(My husband has highlighted a few recipes that I’m to try out.)
Upon speaking with Margaret Yerworth , an active member of the church for the past 62 years who said she felt God urge her into taking over the magazine from her predecessor, I learned about the processes of creating the magazine in the late 20th century (from 1965-1998). It was a process that involved tireless organisation (up to 2 months in advance), chasing people up for stories, and a lot of copy, pasting and typing.
When the magazine was taken over by Ruth Duncan (editor from 1998-present), the workload did not diminish (people still needed to be chased for stories and information) but the technology allowed for easier additions from various sources. The humorous cartoons and caption competitions became fast favourites (and Ruth said she was o en sent hilarious cartoons that were not quite appropriate for public consumption in a church publication).
Ruth enjoys the process of putting the magazine together: she has found particularly cohesive issues to be very rewarding. However, she confessed that there were periods when the inspiration would not come, and things would feel a bit stale and “samey”. Both ladies admitted that it was a lot of work.
As I had the pleasure of interviewing these two ladies, I tentatively asked what they thought about the magazine changing, since they both had vested interest in its’ journey. I was incredibly pleased (and relieved) that they both welcomed the change, understanding that it is truly necessary for anything to grow. Margaret wisely said “You’ve got to accept change… you can’t expect the world to fit with your generation… you’ve got to make room for the younger generation.” As a member of the younger generation, I take on the challenge of bringing the magazine into the 21st century, whilst still respecting its’ long history as a part of this church.
Ruth Benson