Evacuee Poem, 1940: A Wayside Chapel Bade Me Stop

During the Second World War, children from Britain’s big cities were evacuated to live with families in the countryside, to save them from German bombs and possible gas attacks. It must have been a lonely, hard time for them, separated from their mothers while their fathers were off fighting. Evidently, one such lonely young person came across our chapel while out walking, and it lifted his or her spirits, confirming their faith in Him who never leaves nor forsakes us:

 From the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, 18th October 1940:

 To Mr R Riding of Wilpshire, I am indebted to the following contribution by an evacuee:


From a broken city I came

To the peace and quiet of Howgill Lane

Where the trees I know make a glorious show

Of green, and brown, and red.

Where even the stubble fields over the hedge

Speak to me cheerfully- giving the pledge

That the earth is the Lord’s

And the sky overhead.

And as I climbed to Martin Top

A wayside chapel bade me stop;

And I heard again that grand old hymn-

“Jesus shall reign”; have faith in Him.

So down the hill to Howgill Lane,

A song of hope in my heart again;

In Him who died on Calvary.


My prayer is that other lonely, weary travellers will find comfort at our wayside chapel.