The grandson of a couple given a Bible in their wedding in 1909 has presented the Bible to the church where they married in Roundhay in Leeds.

            Albert Fryer of Gledhow and Edith Bradley of Roundhay were the first couple to marry in the new church of Roundhay Congregational Church, the old name of St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, in Shaftesbury Avenue in north east Leeds.  Edith’s parents Abraham and Hannah were founder members of the church and donated the pulpit which is still used.  As part of the wedding service Albert and Edith were presented with the Bible.  It was inscribed by the church.  Ed Fryer, their grandson came across the Bible after his father died two years ago.  He decided to present it to its home church, 102 years after that first wedding.

            Ed Fryer, who lives in Wigan and travelled to Leeds for the service this morning, explains, “My grandparents were very fond of the church where their life together began.  When I came across the Bible, it struck me as poignant that they were the first to be married in what was then a new church, 102 years ago.  I knew they would want the Bible to be in a safe place and so I contacted St Andrew’s.  It was a lovely service this morning when the Bible was received and I was glad to be here.”

            David Pickering, Minister of St Andrew’s adds, “We are very grateful to Ed for this wonderful gift.  Albert and Edith were the first of many couples who have married in the main church at St Andrew’s.  We thank God for the chance to serve Him by helping each of these couples start out.  It was very kind of Ed to come here today with this gift and we pray for God’s blessing on him.”

Left to right, Rev David Pickering and Ed Fryer, as Ed Fryer presents the Bible to St Andrew’s Roundhay United Reformed Church in Leeds standing in front of the pulpit donated by his great grandparents, Abraham and Hannah Bradley (photograph © David Figures 2011)

 
The inscription to Albert Fryer and Edith Bradley on the first page of the Bible (photograph © David Figures 2011);