Bessie Howbrook Remembered

Bessie Howbrook, the sole remaining church-member at Charlesworth Particular Baptist Chapel, died on Sunday 15th May at the age of 86.   She spent the last weeks of her life in a Christian nursing-home near Coventry.  We rejoice that she lived to see the work in Charlesworth re-established under the oversight of Grace Baptist Church Stockport.  Martin Grubb preached at her funeral which was held at the chapel on Monday 23rd May 2005.  Michael Wright, elder at Hall Green Baptist Chapel, Haworth, and one of Bessie’s oldest friends, paid this tribute at the funeral.

Bessie was born Bessie Smith in Accrington, Lancs.  She trained as a confectioner in Accrington and learned to drive in order to deliver cakes and confectionery in and around Accrington.

I first met Bessie in the war years when she came to Haworth to visit friends who worshipped at Hall Green Chapel.  We renewed acquaintance when she and I were delegates to the Northern Particular Baptist Choirs’ Gathering Committee.  Bessie had a fine soprano voice and a good knowledge of music.  She was a good pianist and organist.

Bessie’s life changed considerably when she married Herbert Howbrook and moved to Charlesworth in 1959.  She was a faithful support to Herbert for the rest of his life.  Herbert was a widower with children and Bessie  looked on Herbert’s family as her own family and took a deep interest in Graham (her stepson)’s family.  She loved to tell us how they were getting on and looked forward to seeing them.  Andrew (her grandson)’s marriage to Lila was  a great joy to her.

My wife and I got to know Bessie much better from the 1960s when I was visiting Charlesworth first to attend special services and later to preach.  After Herbert’s death, Bessie was one of, if not the mainstay of the witness at Charlesworth Chapel.  There was always a warm welcome and warm hospitality.  Bessie liked to produce hearty meals for a visiting minister, which was not always a help when preaching later the same day!

Bessie’s skills shone at the Anniversary teas when at one time she provided much of the food from her own kitchen, then played the organ for the services.  Her ability in cooking enabled her to work as cook at one of the local schools for several years.  On one occasion on holiday in the Lake District, there was a crisis in the hotel kitchen and Bessie stepped in to help out.  I believe she cooked the meals for the rest of the week and was invited to stay in for the rest of the season.  Of course, she could not remain away from Charlesworth for so long.

One could not spend much time in Bessie’s company without being aware of her deep faith, her love for the Lord and her longing for the Lord’s blessing on the ministry of the Word at Charlesworth.  She was converted when young and continued in the joy of the Lord into old age.  The words of Psalm 92 are very applicable to Bessie, ‘Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.  They shall still bring forth fruit in old age’.  Bessie loved the house of God.  She loved to hear the ministry of the Word and she prayed for blessing on the witness here in Charlesworth.  It is good that she lived to see God’s hand working once more here with the coming of Martin and his family.

We mourn the loss of a dear friend.  Visits to Charlesworth will not be the same without seeing Bessie.  But we do not mourn as those without hope.  Bessie is now with the Lord and free from all the infirmity and afflictions she has experienced for several years.  For her it is far better.