THE ORGANISATIONS

Aware of the need to create a social bond within the parish, the Curate-in-Charge from the outset encouraged the setting up of various organisations to cater for the interests of individuals from all age groups.

Cubs

The first organisation to be formed on 20 September 1960 was a Wolf Cub Pack - the 8th Belfast (East) - under the leadership of Sheila, a member of the Select Vestry and later to be St Molua's first lady Churchwarden. She had been involved with Cubs at St Donard's Parish Church where Mr Hamilton had seen her worth at first hand when he had served as a curate there.

By January 1961 twelve Cubs were enrolled with two more 'waiting in the wings', and when Sheila retired from the position of Akela in 1967 the Pack, now some twenty-six strong, was said to be one of the best in Ulster. She had laid good foundations and the Pack continued to flourish under successive leaders. Her immediate successor as Akela was Leslie. Like most small boys the Cubs enjoyed football and they competed against other Packs with some success. Two of the Pack were chosen in 1980 to represent the District on a team which played against Dublin District. In the same year the 8th, in combination with Knock Methodist Pack, won the inter-Pack Football Trophy.

Their talents were not confined to football however. In 1983 they took part in a 21st Anniversary Group Gang Show and also won the District Cookout Shield. When Leslie resigned in 1974 he was succeeded by Raymond who, when he retired in 1985, had completed 25 years association with the Group. His successor was his Assistant Cub Scout Leader, Shirley, and under her the Cubs continued to thrive. By 1990 the numbers were falling - a national trend - but not enough to prevent them entering the East Belfast Cub Football League that year, the first time for a number of years. However, continuing falling numbers sadly led to the demise of the Pack some four years later.

Scouts

For older boys a Scout Troop was formed in February 1961 with Stanley in charge. An active Group Committee, helped by the Scouts themselves, raised funds to provide equipment. It also thrived for a number of years and the Troop was involved in a variety of Scouting activities at district level as well as having successful camps in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and abroad. Ian took over the leadership in 1963 and in 1964 went with twelve Scouts to the 5th Essex Jamboree at Southend where two thousand Scouts from two hundred different countries were gathered.

Ian resigned in 1966 and was succeeded by Ronnie, who had had previous experience as a Scout leader in Derriaghy. He obtained a disused cricket pavilion for use as a Scout Den. The Scouts cleared and levelled the ground behind the Hall and sowed it in grass. The Venture Scout Unit - a new section for Scouts (and girls) over 16 introduced in the reorganisation of the Scout Movement in 1966 - helped to paint and refurbish the newly erected hut. It was officially opened in 1973 by Mr Harry Scott, the NI Deputy Chief Commissioner for Cub Scouts. A low period followed the resignation of Ronnie and his Assistant Scout Leader Rowland in 1975, when replacements could not be found for some time. Maurice took over in September 1976 but only a year later his work took him away from the district, and the Troop closed for two years.

Ian from the 10th Belfast (East) Troop became Scout Leader in January 1980 and for several years took the 8th Belfast to new heights. Boys entered the Belfast County Flag Competition and District competitions including swimming. At the East Belfast Scout Gala they won the Andrews' Cup on at least three occasions as well as numerous medals. Patrol Leaders were sent on training courses to the Mournes and a number of Scouts gained their Chief Scout Awards. A year after the reopening of the Troop there were forty Scouts and seven leaders. The proud occasion, in 1983, when Mrs Maureen Houston, District Badge Secretary for East Belfast and a parishioner of St Molua's, was presented with a Medal of Merit was made even more satisfying when her parish Troop carried off by far the greatest number of badges.

Scouts and Guides co-operated in various activities including a very successful Gang Show produced by Mrs Dorothy Leckey to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Guides and Scouts at St Molua's. When Ian was persuaded to return to the 10th Troop in September 1984, to follow in the footsteps of his father and his grandfather, he left a flourishing troop. His successor, the Venture Scout Leader, Robert, held the fort for two years until he was able to upgrade his Assistant Scout Leaders warrant to that of Scout Leader. He remained until 1987 when Brian took over. The Troop remained active until the early 1990s when falling numbers led to the final closure of the Troop, to the great disappointment of a faithful few. The Venture Scout Unit was very successful for a number of years and in 1980 had fourteen members. But by 1986 it had closed from lack of interest - and recruits.

Beavers

In 1974 a Beaver Colony for 6-8 year-old boys was formed with Gillian and Suzanne in charge. When Gillian joined John to lead the Venture Scout Unit Suzanne took over the Colony assisted by Tanya. Both girls undertook both basic and advanced Beaver Leader training. It is a tribute to their leadership skills that, when they took the Beavers to camp in 1982, they were commended for their charges' good behaviour. In 1983 two young men, Paddy and Neil joined them as assistants and in 1985 Tanya took over the Colony as leader. Neil, who became leader in 1990, had the sad duty of presiding over the last days of the Beavers at St Molua's, the Colony the victim of the same problem as the Cubs.

Squirrels

A Squirrel section of the Scout Movement for even younger boys (4-6 years) which started in 1989 with Judith as leader, suffered the fate of many youth organisations in recent years - a decline in numbers and the over-stretching of a diminishing number of volunteer leaders. There have been five different branches of the Scout Movement represented in St Molua's since 1961. Today (1998) there are none.

Guides

The uniformed organisations for girls have fared a little better. A Guide Company with Mrs Chasty as Captain was formed in the autumn of 1961. Mrs Chasty came with a wealth of Guiding experience as she had previously been Captain in St Donard's Parish Church. As with the Scouts the high point of the year was summer camp, although the Guides did not venture as far afield as the boys, going no further than Great Britain. Their first time under canvas was a joint camp with the Guides from St Donard's at Castlewellan Castle in 1963. When Mrs Chasty resigned in 1967 she was succeeded by her Lieutenant, Margaret, and she in turn was followed by Sheelagh, daughter of the Parish Treasurer and the former Kindergarten Sunday School Superintendent. Her successor, Mrs Brown was followed by Henrietta who resigned on leaving the country in 1978. Angela, already a lieutenant with the Company, followed her and remained as Captain until 1986 when Heather was appointed. After many ups and downs thanks to the dedication and hard work of the Guide Captain and her Lieutenant, Catherine, the Guides have survived and are the only uniformed organisation still functioning in the church in 1998.

Brownies

The 152nd Brownie Pack (St Molua's), the earliest of the uniformed organisations for girls to be formed in the church, was also a success story under the leadership of Anne as Brown Owl. When Anne married in 1972 she remained as Brown Owl and, with the staunch assistance of Frances who had been Pack Leader in 1963-4, and Dorothy, who joined in 1964, she continued to run the Pack successfully for over twenty-seven years. The girls enjoyed competition with other Packs and won the District Shield on a number of occasions.

An annual Parents' Night was always a popular event and the Brownies were regular and enthusiastic stallholders at the sweet stall at the Christmas Fair. Almond trees in the grounds and the planting and tending of a small flowerbed were their contribution to the decoration of their church. When Anne, Frances and Dorothy retired together in 1988 two of their former Brownies, Elaine and Lorna, took over the running of the Pack. When both moved from the area after their marriages in 1991 none of their three assistants was free to take over. The former leaders agreed to 'keep an eye on' the Pack activities until a new leader was appointed Brown Owl later the same year. Sadly, at the time of writing, there is no Brownie Pack associated with St Molua's.

Rainbows

The most junior branch of the Guide Movement, originally called Bunnies and later Rainbows, caters for the 4-7 year olds. It was set up in 1968 by Frances while still holding office as Tawny Owl with the Brownie Pack. Following her marriage in 1970 she resigned from the Bunnies which were taken over for a year by Miss G. Andrews. Her successor Janet kept the lively little girls occupied and happy until the group was taken over by Jenny in 1991. She in turn was succeeded by Jean but this section has now ceased, again because of falling numbers.

One by one, nearly all of the uniformed youth organisations in the church have closed, the honourable exception in early 1998 being a small Company of Guides. The fall in numbers is partly a national trend. The known tendency of children to join other organisations where friends are already members is undoubtedly a contributory factor. There are fewer young people in the church too, and possibly not enough adults willing and able to give their time and talent to run the organisations.

Badminton

A similar fate for many years befell the Junior Badminton Club which, when it began in 1963, had so many members that the coaches could not deal with them and it had to be closed to new members for a time. After that it had fluctuating fortunes over the years, fading to virtual extinction in the late 1970s, until revived again under the leadership of Jean in 1984. Interest waned again when urgent repair work meant that the hall was not available for a lengthy period. In more recent times badminton has been revived for Juniors under the leadership of Mark and Richard.

Senior Badminton, which began at the same time, was also a flourishing club and for a number of years had enough members to send teams to play in outside tournaments. With a membership of forty-one in 1968 its teams reached the final of the Churches' League two years in succession, and in 1971, the St Molua's team won the Churches' League Challenge Cup. It no longer exists as a mixed club but a small number of ladies keep the spirit of the game alive.

Table Tennis

A Table Tennis club had a relatively short life from its founding in 1970. It flourished initially and had an active membership of both juniors and seniors. A table-tennis marathon was held to raise funds for the church, but the club lasted only a few years in all.

Bowls

A Men's Club was one of the first organisations to be formed and its members developed an enthusiasm for the increasingly popular game of indoor bowls, forming teams to compete both in club and outside tournaments. It continues today, although now purely as a Bowling Club with lady members as well. Because of falling numbers in the past it was opened to non-parishioners and this group now forms the greater part of its membership. The ladies decided they would like a bowling club too, and it has been another moderate success story as it continues to meet in the hall on Wednesday afternoons.

CIMS

A branch of the Church of Ireland Men's Society was formed in 1974. The Clerical Secretary of the NI Mens' Society, who came to the first meeting to explain the aims of the organisation, was Rev. Hamilton Leckey a brother of a parishioner. As well as its regular monthly meetings, with speakers covering a wide variety of topics, it maintains links with the men in other parishes through joint services and outings to churches in different parts of the British Isles.

Drama

A Drama Club, initially called "The Lua Players", began about 1960. One of the founding members, who later produced and even wrote some of its productions, was Mrs Dorothy Tyson. It ran successfully for many years producing a pantomime most Christmases and one or two plays at other times of the year. When the Club began entering the Churches Drama League the name was changed to "The Stormont Players" as some strangers could not understand the previous title! It was later renamed, yet again, "The St Molua's Players". The Players won a number of different awards in the League's competitions, including the Bart Shield at least twice, as well as a number of individual awards. Although there was considerable enthusiasm within the group, and its donations to church funds were substantial, productions were not always as well supported as they could have been. The Club folded and some of its most talented members joined other dramatic societies.

Youth Club

A Youth Guild was started early in the life of the church at which various activities were organised by and for the young people. Some members went carol singing for Dr Barnardo's and other charities at Christmas, and on another occasion had a 'starve in' to raise money for Christian Aid. Square dancing and barn dancing were popular as was swimming at the local leisure centre. An outing to Strandtown RUC station was an interesting variation. In 1961 some of the members attended the 3rd British Conference of Christian Youth.

In 1968 the Guild was affiliated to the new Churches Youth Movement through which it was hoped the young people would be enabled to take a more active part in the fellowship of the parish. The members contributed by organising an evening for senior parishioners and by helping with maintenance of church buildings and grounds. Arrangements were made to have some meetings in the hall after Evening Prayer on Sundays, with a social evening on Mondays, but the Youth Guild remained basically a Monday evening social organisation.

While, in the mid-seventies, support from members and their friends brought weekly attendance figures up to 40 or 50 for a time, the organisation continued to have mixed fortunes with numbers dropping off again a few years later. It was run successfully for several more years by Colin and Caroline until they married in 1985 and left the district. In 1987 a group of four young adults in the parish reorganised the group as "TeenScene" which was successful while under their watchful eyes. Unfortunately all four left the parish within a short time and with no successors to step into their shoes, TeenScene ceased to function.

Ladies Guild

One of the most consistent organisations, and the one with the largest membership, has been the Ladies Guild. It was formed in 1960 under the leadership of Mrs Olga Hamilton, the Curate-in Charge's wife. To her must go most of the credit of its long-lived success. Its initial monthly meetings progressed to twice monthly, and a full programme keeps its committee busy and its members entertained and informed. Meetings have attracted a substantial membership, although numbers in the late 1990s are falling. An annual dinner and an outing in the summer have been regular and popular features of the Guild's programme. A variety of fund-raising activities over the years has enabled the Guild to contribute substantially to church funds. Special handcraft and sewing classes were popular with some members and the work of the Sick Visitors, which the Guild appointed annually for some years, was greatly appreciated.

Friendly Circle

Only one new organisation was formed in the last years of Canon Hamilton's ministry. The Friendly Circle, brainchild of parishioner Kay, is essentially an informal friendly gathering of ladies on a weekday morning for a cup of tea or coffee and a chat. It has helped newcomers to the parish to meet and make new friends, and ladies who live alone find congenial company at a time of day most suited to them. Almost incidentally, and in spite of the 'maturity' of the majority of its members, it has also developed into an effective fund-raiser for the church, with different individuals contributing their particular skills - sewing, knitting, baking, jam-making, waitressing etc.

The first thirty-three years in the life of St Molua's Parish Church, Stormont, were not easy. The financial burden put severe strain on the incumbent and on successive Select Vestries who could see the needs of the parish but were prevented, by constraints of time and money, from dealing with them as effectively as they would have wished. It is greatly to their credit that so many have soldiered on in faith and fellowship, willing to share the burden and help in whatever way they could.

For all but the first eight years of its existence the church's work has been carried on against the background of "The Troubles". At particularly bad times organisations meeting in the evening had a marked falloff in attendance. Happily, otherwise, St Molua's has been only marginally affected directly by the civil unrest.

This part of the story of St Molua's ends with the retirement of Canon Hamilton in January 1993. His successor, Rev. David Humphries was instituted on 17 May of the same year - and there begins the next chapter - for someone else to write.