STAMPEDE AT CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22259, 11 May 1934, Page 11

STAMPEDE AT CHURCH

WOMAN'S LAST SERMON OVER 500 PEOPLE LOCKED OUT. There were amazing scenes at the Partick Congregational Church in Glasgow, when the Rev. Vera Kenmure, Scotland's first, woman minister, preached her last sermon to a congregation of 1000 a few weeks ago. When the doors were opened there was a wild rush to enter the church, and an official had to appeal to the crowd to be more orderly, or he would have to send for the police. Women lost their hats in the stampede, and over 500 people were locked out. Many people wept during the sermon. Mrs Kenmure's resignation was brought about —after a live years' ministry at the Partick Church —by a section of the congregation taking exception to her continuing as their minister after the birth of her baby early this year. The principle involved in the resignation of Mrs Kenmure, will, it is expected, be brought up at the annual meeting of the Society for the Ministry of Women, to be held at St. Albans on June 9. Dr Maude Royden will preside.

Other married women ministers are pursuing their vocation in the pastorate as well as bringing up their children. At Wolverton Congregational Church. Buckinghamshire, the Rev. Constance Coltmon is co-minister, with her husband. She has a family of three young children.

The Rev. Mrs Living Taylor, who i« also a co-minister with her husband at the Clayton-Le-Moors Baptist Church. asserts that because she is a mother she can be a better minister.