| Title |
Records of Cambridge University Presbyterian-Congregational Society, predecessor and successor bodies |
| Reference |
GBR/0265/SOC.91
(former reference: Ms.Add.8672) |
| Creator |
Cambridge University Presbyterian-Congregational Society |
| Covering Dates |
1930–1995 |
| Extent and Medium |
3 metres; paper, photograph |
| Repository |
Cambridge University Archives |
|
| Content and context |
|
Cambridge University Presbyterian-Congregational Society, or ProngSoc, was formed in 1965 by the amalgamation of Cambridge University Presbyterian Association and Cambridge University Congregational Society, themselves formed in 1883 and 1905 respectively. Members were occasionally referred to as ''Prongs''. From 1986, the society was known as Cambridge University United Reformed Church Society and described itself as ''a fellowship within which its members can explore the Christian way of life''. In addition to running a Sunday lunch speaker programme, it held Bible study groups and led services in free churches in the Cambridge area. Its social programme included punt breakfasts and annual summer holidays. From the 1940s-60s, for the Congregational Society, these took the form of walking holidays in the Lake District. Latterly, they became reading parties held at the Iona and St David's communities. A close relationship was maintained between the society and the congregations of Emmanuel and St Columba's United Reformed Churches. From time to time, members were drawn from Westminster and Cheshunt Theological Colleges. The society was formally wound up at the end of Easter term 1995. Further information on Congregational Society history is in the brief address given by Malcolm P. Smith in 1947 (catalogued as SOC.91.21 below). Further information on Cambridge University Presbyterian Association and St Columba's Congregation may be found in R. Buick Knox, St Columba's Church, Cambridge, 1879-1979: a centenary survey (Oxford and Cambridge Schools Examination Board; Oxford, 1980) (classmark: Cam.b.980.24) and E.F.B. Macalister, St Columba's Church, Cambridge: some recollections and a chronicle (Cambridge University Press; Cambridge, 1950) (classmark: Cam.b.950.5).
The records are predominantly those of the Cambridge University Presbyterian-Congregational Society, but form a natural sequence with those for the Cambridge University Congregational and Cambridge University United Reformed Church Societies which are also described here.
The records were transferred to the University Archives from the Manuscripts Department on 19 March 2008. They had been deposited by Marion Yorke (New Hall) on behalf of Cambridge University United Reformed Church Society with the Manuscripts Department on 22 April 1987 and had been given the classmark Ms.Add.8672. A second batch of material was presented to the University Archives by Margaret Thompson, archivist of Emmanuel U.R.C., on 11 April 2008. A third batch of material was presented to the University Archives by Margaret Thompson in the same capacity on 11 April 2008. Lists of which items formed the second and third accessions may be obtained from the University Archives.
|
Access and Use
|
Please cite as Cambridge University Archives, Records of Cambridge University Presbyterian-Congregational Society, predecessor and successor bodies, SOC.91 |
| Further information |
|
The minutes of Cambridge University Presbyterian Association, 1948-65, are held at the Cambridgeshire Archives service (reference: R104/129).
The online catalogue entry for Janus was completed in April 2008 and emended in January 2013.
|
| Index Terms |
| Christians |
| Clubs |
| Congregationalism |
| Discussion Groups |
| Nonconformity |
| Prayer |
| Presbyterianism |
| Religious Activities |
| United Reformed Church |
| Cambridge University Presbyterian-Congregational Society |
| Cambridge University Congregational Society |
| University/SOC.91 contains: |
|
SOC.91.1
|
Minutes of meetings, signed.
10 volumes; paper. |
1934–1995 |
|
SOC.91.2
|
Minutes of committee meetings, signed.
4 volumes; paper. |
1960–1995 |
|
SOC.91.3
|
President's correspondence and papers.
5 files; paper. |
1975–1986 |
|
SOC.91.4
|
Vice-president's correspondence and papers. The file mainly relates to the organisation of retreats for current members and annual reunions for old members.
1 file; paper. |
1979–1983 |
|
SOC.91.5
|
Summaries of secretary's correspondence.
2 volumes; paper. |
1961–1994 |
|
SOC.91.6
|
Secretary's correspondence and papers.
3 files; paper. |
1947–1994 |
|
SOC.91.7
|
Receipt and expenditure accounts.
3 volumes; paper. |
1930–1995 |
|
SOC.91.8
|
Petty cash account.
1 volume; paper. |
1990–1995 |
|
SOC.91.9
|
Treasurer's accounts, financial material, and correspondence.
6 files; paper. |
1961–1984 |
|
SOC.91.10
|
Correspondence and papers relating to charitable donations made by the society. Included with these papers are details of charities to whom outstanding funds were made-over on the closure of the society.
1 file; paper. |
1988–1995 |
|
SOC.91.11
|
Catering secretary's menus, expense notebooks, correspondence, and papers.
2 files; paper. |
1974–1995 |
|
SOC.91.12
|
Correspondence and papers relating to services.
2 files; paper. |
1977–1995 |
|
SOC.91.13
|
Descriptions of the role and duties of committee members. These are notes written by outgoing post holders for the benefit of their successors. They appear to have been drawn together from the files of the president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary.
1 item, 1 file; paper. |
1963–1995 |
|
SOC.91.14
|
Membership records. Address lists, 1947-67; Register of members, 1990-5, including Freshers' Fair sign up lists, address lists and summer prayer letters, 1985-91.
1 bundle, 1 volume; paper. |
1947–1991 |
|
SOC.91.15
|
Circulars and letters from other Cambridge University denominational and ecumenical groups. The ecumenical circulars sometimes include copy minutes of meetings. There is also a report on the 1986 National U.R.C. Student Conference held in Cambridge.
1 file; paper. |
1979–1995 |
|
SOC.91.16
|
Term programmes and circulars.
2 files; paper. |
1964–1995 |
|
SOC.91.17
|
Song lyrics and other assorted papers. The file includes: whimsical songs about the society, including Lake parties song book, 1956; Lake parties verse, and walk reports written in different literary styles, n.d.; information about the society's parrot mascots, with photographs; photographs of society members on a punt trip; information for publication [in ? student handbooks]; and artwork for society letterheads.
1 file; paper, photograph. |
1956–1995 |
|
SOC.91.18
|
Papers relating to missions.
8 envelopes. |
1951–1959 |
|
SOC.91.19
|
Fellowship Groups papers. Include blank questionnaire on belief, n.d.
2 envelopes. |
1957–1968 |
|
SOC.91.20
|
Logs of Lake District holidays.
1 item, 11 notebooks. |
1944–1962 |
|
SOC.91.21
|
The history of Cambridge University Congregational Society. An address given by Malcolm P. Smith in June 1947, with some memories of Henry 'Polly' Carter. The address was edited by Michael Smyth in May 2004 and circulated as a booklet.
1 booklet. |
May 2004 |
|
SOC.91.22
|
Papers relating to joint meeting with other Congregational societies in the UK.
1 envelope. |
1948–1964 |
|
SOC.91.23
|
Anniversary celebration papers. Comprise: dinner menu, brief society history and order of service for events to mark Congregational Society diamond jubilee 23-24 October 1965; membership lists, names and addresses and biographical histories produced for ProngSoc 25th anniversary reunion, 15-16 September 1990.
2 envelopes. |
1965–1990 |
|
SOC.91.24
|
Papers relating to amalgamation of Congregational Society and Presbyterian Association.
2 items in envelope. |
1962–1965 |
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