Bethlen Naptár, 1958 (Ligonier)
Highlights in Hungarian Life…
238 BETHLEN NAPTÁR insufficient knowledge of English, many of them will probably have to take on employment and try to continue their studies later on in various evening institutes. The Inter-Church Aid and Refugee Service Department of the British Council of Churches has appointed the Rev. T. J. Coulter to help in the work of pastoral care for Hungarian refugees and has offered to meet all costs for a year. Rev. T. J. Coulter’s untiring and devoted assistance has enabled the Hungarian ministers to solve most of the immediate and pressing problems but there is still much to be done. Rev. T. J. Coulter was the Head of the Scottish Mission in Kolozsvár, he speaks Hungarian fluently and he has never spared himself in giving devoted and loving service to the cause of the Hungarian refugees. Rev. F. Kovács, one time minister in Hamilton, Canada, has also offered his services for full-time pastoral work. At the beginning of the emergency he visited nearly all the camps and hostels established in about 150 various towns in England. Rev. Gy. Csörsz and Rev. S. Tamás, also Rev. D. Trombitás arrived in the United Kingdom in the spring, 1957. The Hungarian Reformed Church wishes to express her heartfelt thanks to Miss Janet Lacey, the Director of the Inter-Church Aid Department of the British Council of Churches, who made it possible for the above mentioned ministers, to come and help in the pastoral care of refugees. In April, 1957, Rev. R. Pátkai, from the Lutheran Church of Hungary, joined the other ministers. The number of ministers among the refugees with him, has risen to 6. The nearest estimation of Protestant refugees is about 4,000. The greatest obstacle for effective pastoral work among them is the fact that most of them are scattered all over England and at the present moment, many of them are concentrating upon finding suitable employment and accommodation. The ministers are trying to establish a few centres, from where they can direct their pastoral work. The building of these centres are hindered by the fact that the ministers are compelled to move about constantly in visiting the faithful. Realization of the above aim might come about by 1958. Another nagging problem is of financial character. The British Churches have offered assistance for a year but if it ceases, there will probably be no more than one or two trained ministers to carry on the gigantic work, the fate of the centre in London is also in the balance, though it is the one that directs and co-ordinates the activities of the various country-communities. The Church is trying to build up a fund that might enable the establishment of a permanent home for the London congregation. At present, only Bradford has regular premises beside the London group. The Hungarian Relief Fund, originated by the devoted work of the Hungarian Roman Catholic and Protestant Church, gives substantial aid in the way of financial relief, in placing refugees to
