Dick

b.1922, married, 3 children, 8 grandchildren, retired Christian bookshop owner and second-hand book dealer.

Dick was born to a good Christian family in York. His father was a Methodist, his mother an Anglican. Dick received religious instruction in both denominations and commenced studying the bible on a regular basis at the age of 10. It was, however, at the age of 17 that he experienced his conversion to a life in Christ. That was after a period of disconnection from the church, "out in the wilderness". A friend invited him to attend a mission meeting in Holgate Chapel. Dick was impressed by what he heard and a few days later went there again, having told his parents that he was going to the cinema. A missionary from South America spoke with a true anointing of the spirit, quoting from 2 Corinthians 5:17:

"...if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

That was it. Dick realised what the Lord had done for him, accepted Him into his life and the verse became real and true. Contrary to what his parents at first thought, that his new zeal was a flash in a pan, the verse and the experience is still as real and true to him today.

He launched himself into Christian youthwork in York and joined St Andrew's Church, where he met Melvine. Whilst he was in the army they got married, but he was drafted into the war two weeks later, serving in India for the next two years. On his return, Dick and Melvine resumed their Christian youthwork, teaching in bible study classes and serving as secretaries of the National Young Life Campaign. Their close involvement in evangelical work in York lasted 35 years, during which Dick took organising roles in a wide range of interdenominational missions, campaigns and events.

Dick and Melvine also took on the ministry of supplying York Christians with good reading matter. The lack of such became soon apparent in the postwar period and they set about filling the need by providing bookstalls to churches, Christian houseparties and conferences. He also ran a bookstall in the York market for eight years. By the 1960s, the number of church stalls they were supplying exceeded 60, covering not just York but a few places further afield as well, and their commodious house was becoming rather filled with stock. Dick was earning a comfortable living for his family in his full-time job as Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths, but the question was now arising of whether he should not give it up in favour of making the retail of Christian books his full-time calling. His parents as well as his accountant were against it, for after all, giving up a secure job in return for the uncertainties of the book trade just did not look a sensible option, especially as there were three teenage children to feed. Dick and Melvine prayed on it for six years. Dick wrote his letter of resignation to the City Council, but did not post it. One morning, however, when they opened their devotional Daily Light to read, the text of the day was headed by a quote from the Old Testament: "Now Then Do It". Dick posted the letter.

The rise of the bookshop was a story of God's timely provision through the offices of Christian friends. They lent money for start-up capital, helped to find shop premises in Walmgate Bar at an affordable rent, and provided endless hours of voluntary labour. An anonymous gift of £400 (a lot of money at the time) came through the post just at the moment it became clear that the shop needed many more bibles and there was no money in the bank to buy new stock. After 13 years, Dick bought a derelict property in Fossgate which, once it was repaired into a servicable state, made a new and larger home for the bookshop that became known as the Barbican. Yet again, the willing helping hands of many Christians, whom Dick had got to know mainly through his youthwork activities, provided what was needed to make the venture a success.

The main focus of the bookshop was the sale of bibles, evangelical books and books of biblical commentary. Second-hand books, however, came to constitute a sideline that was an important source of financial subsidy to the business and pleasurable adventure. Gradually that side of it grew and libraries were bought from all over the country. The shop became a good centre for Christian witness and for meeting Christian friends.

Dick still misses his shop, although it is now more than 20 years since he retired from the trade. After his retirement, he looked after a country chapel near Stamford Bridge in addition to his numerous commitments in York. He was an Elder in St Andrew's Church and then a founding member of the York Community Church. Since Melvine became ill and needy of constant care, Dick's activities have contracted somewhat but he still attends bible study groups and prayer meetings, and takes fellow church members on country walks.

Looking back, there is nothing in their life that he or Melvine would have wanted to change. God has guided them, provided for them and answered their prayers. Their children have been born-again Christians since their teenage years, now the grandchildren, too. "The thing to underline", Dick says, "is the goodness of God, His faithfulness."

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