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REPRESENTING THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF 2X2 HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS ON THE INTERNET
FRANCE & BELGUIM
NOTE: The work in Belgium has mostly been tied to the work in France. For a few years in the 1960s and 70s the staff was divided, with Belgium coupled with the French provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. However, they were soon combined into one staff again. In French speaking countries, the preachers are referred to by the friends and by each other as "servants," whereas Americans use the word "worker."
Workers went to France about 1908, but left due to World War I. There no workers or friends in France after the war until the early 1920s when Ray Bonds and John Baillie arrived. While Ray was in the work in the USA, he was drafted into the military service and served part of his time in France. It was due to his time spent there that he offered to go back to France as a worker.
A 1917 newspaper reported: “In the summer of 1908 the sect had made such progress that a village at Crocknacrieve in Co. Fermanagh, were astonished, by the arrival in their midst of an international convention. There were 1,000 men and women evangelists who gathered there from all parts of the United Kingdom, besides travelling from France, Germany, Spain, Australia, the United States, South Africa, and New Zealand. They stayed there for a couple of weeks, living in tents in a great camp, which was conducted on communistic lines. The men did the cooking, tailoring, repairing, etc., while the women looked after other domestic duties.” ( July 19, 1917, p6, Impartial Reporter)
In 1922, the Blanck family returned from South Africa to their homeland, Switzerland, where there were no friends or workers. Violet Blanck was born in South Africa in 1907. In 1920, when she was 13 years old, she heard about the gospel through a friend at school. She and her mother then went to a meeting in Switzerland where Alec Pearce spoke. In a later mission, Violet and her mother professed.
Violet's father was unable to find work in Switzerland, so he moved his family to Paris, France. Soon after the Blancks arrived in Paris, John Baillie and Ray Bonds came to their door on the rue Godat de Mauroy, and the Blanck home became the first open home in France. In 1927 the Blancks attended convention in England.
In 1930, Violet Blanck entered the work at the age of 23. She was the first sister worker to begin preaching in France. She went to England in 1940 and helped in missions there at various times, where she also cared for her parents there and later married. (Source: First Missions in Switzerland)
When did the workers first arrive? Workers went to France about 1908, but left due to World War I, and there has been no record located of the workers' names. There were no workers in France after WWI until the early 1920s.
Who were the first brother workers? A 1922 Workers List shows Ray Bonds by himself; and a 1924 list shows John Baillie joining him that year.
Orin Taylor (Nebraska) and Jim Chapman (England) show up on the 1929 Workers list, along with Kitty Westerby and Dorothy Brown (both from England). Violet Blanck shows in 1930, by which time several others had arrived: Hubert Childers ( Texas), Arthur Boyce ( England), Marjorie Millward ( England) and Anise Duck ( Texas).
Who were the first sister workers? In 1930, Violet Blanck entered the work at the age of 23. She was the first sister worker to begin preaching in France. She went to England in 1940 and helped in missions there at various times, where she also cared for her parents there and later married.
Who was the first to profess? Soon after the Blancks arrived in Paris, John Baillie and Ray Bonds came to their door on the rue Godat de Mauroy, and the Blanck home became the first open home in France. In 1927 the Blancks attended convention in England.
Who was the first native to go in the work? Thérèse Behra appears on the 1935 Workers list, the first French native to start; however, French Workers Lists for 1933 and 1934 are not available, so she may have started before 1935. She continued until her death in 1987.
When & Where was the first meeting? Unknown
When & Where was the first baptism? Unknown
When & Where was the first convention? Unknown
Where have subsequent conventions been held? In 1980, there were three small conventions scattered around the country: Congenies, Foljuif and Peumont.
Where is the convention currently held? At some point the three smaller conventions were consolidated into one larger convention at Chaintreauville, where it has been held the last several years.
Who have the Overseers been? It's difficult to determine this from the Workers lists, since they seem to alternate names at the top, so the following list of Overseers may not be 100% accurate.
Arthur Boyce was overseer for a number of years after WW2, perhaps until his death in 1981.
Albert Gallichan (from the Isle of Jersey) succeeded him, until his death at Fosters convention in 1993.
John Baxendale from England (who changed his name to Jean Baxe when he went to France) until 2000.
Peter Liddle ( England), who may have been co-overseer with Cyril Barlow ( England) for a time.
Dean Affleck ( Saskatchewan) may have recently assumed the responsibility there.
BELGIUM
NOTE: The work in Belgium has mostly been tied to the work in France. For a few years in the 1960s and 70s the staff was divided, with Belgium coupled with the French provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. However, they were soon combined into one staff again. In 2010, the Dutch speaking part of Belgium (Vlaanderen) is now together with Zeeland (a part of the
Netherlands), in one area/field with two Dutch speaking workers.
When did the workers first arrive? The work in Belgium began in 1930.
Who were the first brother workers? Joe Hogan ( Ireland) and John Todhunter ( England) are the first ones listed in Belgium in 1930.
Who were the first sister workers? Simone Appart started in the work in Belgium in 1932.
Who was the first to profess? Unknown
Who was the first native to go in the work? Simone Appart started in the work in Belgium in 1932, so she was the first native Belgian to enter the work and she was only in the work until the outbreak of WW2.
When & Where was the first meeting?
When & Where was the first baptism?
When & Where was the first convention?
Where have subsequent conventions been held?
Where is the convention currently held? Lillois
Who have the Overseers been? See above list of Overseers for France.
TTT Editor's Note: In the absence of a written account, the above information has been compiled by the TTT Editor from various sources. Corrections or additions are most welcome; as well as other historical accounts for this country Email TTT
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