Image ID: 18265

Toc H old people's Christmas party

Courtesy of Mr G Nicholson

Bingham
England

TOC H is committed to building a fairer society by working with communities to promote friendship and service, confront prejudice and practise reconciliation. Toc H was started during the Great War, in a house in a Belgian town named Poperinge, a few miles behind the front-line trenches. The house was called Talbot House (whose initials, in army telephone jargon, give TOC H its distinctive name). In this house a young Army chaplain, the Rev. 'Tubby' Clayton, set up a rest centre for soldiers. From the start, it was open to all ranks, which was very unusual. Many who visited gained a deeper understanding of other people, and of their own Faith. After the War the men who survived returned to civilian life. They decided to try to recreate the Talbot House experience in peacetime. They started creating opportunities for other people to have that same experience, whether the divisions were of rank, class or any other. To begin with, they set up residential houses like Talbot House. Later, they started forming local branches, which met weekly. Very soon women were fully involved too. Renewal, regeneration, rebuilding have been consistent themes as Toc H has brought its distinctive ethos (based on the four principles of friendship, service, fairmindedness and spirituality) to bear in local communities across the country. (information from www.toch.org.uk)

Organisation:

Rate this image:

Keywordschristmaspartyoldpeopletablecelebrationfoodtableclothchristianspiritualtochfaithsocialteapotcommunity

Bingham Library