WHO remembers the Queen Victoria Guild?

It was the name given to the children’s service held on Sunday afternoons at St Michael at the Northgate Church, in Cornmarket Street, Oxford.

Reader Myrtle Cracknell writes: “In the 1940s, families still lived in Oxford’s central streets, but the guild was also well attended by children from all over the city.

“The vicar in charge was Canon R Martin, a well-loved Oxford figure.

“Girls and boys sat either side of the aisle. Church ladies sat inside the door to record attendance and issue picture cards to be collected in sets – saints, cathedrals, parables and other biblical themes.

“Later, these were changed to small stickers to be kept in an album, which could be decorated in the hope of a prize for the best illustration.

“After the first six weeks’ attendance, children received an enrolment certificate bearing a photograph of the young Queen Victoria receiving news of her accession and saying ‘I will be good’, which became the guild’s motto.”

Mrs Cracknell, whose maiden name was Garrett, recalls that senior children helped during church services by taking the collection, reading lessons and ringing the bells, often rather unevenly.

“Canon Martin had great story-telling skills, always with a moral theme, acting dramatically, pacing the aisle, clapping his hands and flourishing his arms.”

She remembers the church ladies organising a Christmas party at St Michael’s Hall, in Shoe Lane, with a sparse tea due to rationing.

“Often a christening would be held after the children’s service, to which the children could stay, but whether the parents of the new baby really wanted the additional noisy participants was another matter.

“The guild supported animal welfare and children were issued with collection boxes in the shape of animals and a magazine called Animal Ways.

“As Canon Martin was the City Rector, occasionally the children’s service was transferred to the City Church in High Street, rather a forbidding building after the cosiness of St Michael’s.

“With the approach of teenage years, some children attended confirmation classes on a weekday evening.

“My confirmation was by the Bishop of Dorchester in a crowded St Giles Church, wearing a white dress and veil loaned by the church.”

After leaving the Queen Victoria Guild, many boys and girls moved up to the junior guild, a youth club held in St Michael’s Hall.

Mrs Cracknell, who now lives in Bournemouth, recalls: “Many happy times were passed there with club activities, dancing, visits to local places of interest and walks along the river.”

Any other memories of the guild to share with readers? Write and let me know.