BROMSGROVE'S New Road Methodist Church, built in 1883, was showing its age and was about to be re-roofed and redecorated at a cost of £1,600. Half that amount had been raised by worshippers. Originally the church and schoolroom had cost £3,000 to build. It was the second Wesleyan church in the town - the first was built in Kidderminster Road at a cost of £550 in 1832 and was now occupied by Clements Displays.

AN announcement in the budget regarding the launch of a national lottery was welcomed in Bromsgrove. In its leader, the Messenger said it saw 'nothing wicked' in raising cash which could be spent on such long awaited local projects as the swimming baths, Sanders Park and the by-pass. Tickets would be £1 and prizes of up to £10,000 drawn every quarter.

BARNT Green was in mourning at the death of its vicar, the Rev Canon Alban Tilt. He was 69-years-old and had been at St Andrew's since 1948. Among the many changes and improvements he had introduced to the church was the rebuilding and electrification of the organ, the installation of central heating and establishing the church library. A member of a local farming family, prior to being ordained, he had spent some time working in India as a missionary.