A Mormon Exodus
WHAT do you think of when you hear the term Mormon or the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints? Many people, with a small amount of knowledge of the religion, will think of America, possibly Brigham Young, probably the Osmond Family and certainly Family History. For the Mormons have a massive family history/genealogy database which over the years has helped thousands of people to trace family trees. But did you know that many of today’s members of the faith had Norfolk roots?.
Just one of these was my second cousin Doris DURRANT (nee STEWARD) who married into the faith and left Norfolk for Provo in Utah just after the Second World War. Doris’ story of how she left these shores for a new life is probably typical of many other converts. Doris was born and brought up in Norwich and as a young girl attended both Calvert Street Methodist Church and the Mormon Church in Park Lane. The church in Park Lane has an interesting history. A tiny brick built chapel it was designed by Augustus SCOTT and built at the expense of James SPILLINGS who was editor of the Eastern Daily Press Newspaper. SPILLINGS was a follower of Emmanuel SWEDENBORG, the 18th century Swedish theological philosopher, who had a considerable following in Norwich which eventually declined. Within 20 years, the chapel was sold to the Mormons who worshipped there until moving to a larger building in Eaton, where they still meet. Today the building is a private house, but the current owner hires it out for concerts and other events.
Doris met and married Cyril DURRANT, a confirmed Mormon, and they set off for the United States on the US vessel Washington in 1948. A list of passengers shows that Doris and Cyril, who were aged 28 and 30, travelled with their daughter Christine, who was one, and Cyril's mother Emma who was 61. They entered their new homeland in New York and then journeyed to Utah by train. In 2010 I travelled to Utah to meet Doris and many members of her family. After I returned to England, Doris often phoned and we had long conversations about Norwich fuelled by her remarkable memory and love “of the old country.” She may have lived for 63 of her 91 years in America, but there were still traces of a Norfolk accent. What follows are Doris’ memories of growing up in Norwich and what led her to leave our shores
“My father's name was Arthur William STEWARD. He was born 28 December, 1893. His father's name was Arthur STEWARD, and he was also born in Norwich. His mother's maiden name was Eliza Rosy KELF. My mother's maiden name was Alice Harriet TUTTLE. She was born 18 January, 1893, in Norwich. Her father's name was Frederick TUTTLE and her mother's maiden name was Jeanette Elizabeth FOUNTAIN. I was a convert to the church, so I was not blessed in our LDS (Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints) Church, but was christened in the Methodist Church.
When we were very little girls, my two little sisters and I started Sunday School at the Methodist Church close by our home. It was held in the afternoon. We also attended evening services. At this time, my grandfather, Frederick TUTTLE, was superintendent of the Sunday School of the little branch in Norwich, of the LDS Church. As soon as my sisters and I were big enough to walk there, a lady who lived close by and who was a Latter-Day Saint, started to take us to Sunday School. It must have been two or three miles each way and a very long way for us to walk. We called the lady Auntie Mabel, and I recall that every few minutes we would say, "Are we half way there yet, Auntie Mabel?"
As I have mentioned, my grandfather was Sunday school superintendent, and I was very proud of him and enjoyed immensely attending Sunday school, (LDS in the morning and Methodist Sunday School in the afternoon). As I grew older, I began to realise there was a great difference in the two Sunday Schools I was attending. After much thought, study and prayer, I became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was 18 years old and was baptised on the 17 December, 1938 in our little chapel in the Norwich Branch in the British Mission. I was baptised by a missionary by the name of Francis PATTERSON and was confirmed by my grandfather, Frederick TUTTLE. What a wonderfully happy day that was. There were very few members of the church in Norwich, and I wanted everyone to know that I had become a member of the true church. I wanted them all to be as happy as I was. Of course, I knew there would be much criticism. People had many strange ideas and views of our church and could not understand my joining the Mormon Church. At that time, I was working mostly with ladies much older than myself. I was very shy. I did not talk of my religion as I felt I had so much to learn and understand. I knew I would be asked many questions. When a lady who I worked with learned I was a Latter-Day Saint, she could hardly believe it. I recall so well how she bounded into the room and said, in a very loud voice: "Are you a Mormon?" It seemed as though you could hear a pin drop as everyone turned to me. I told her I was, and she was truly astounded and said she didn't know how I dared. She told how when she was a little girl, her mother threatened them that the Mormons would take them away if they were naughty. She said even then, and at this time she was middle aged, she wouldn't dare walk by our chapel for fear someone would pull her in. In time, I was able to convince her that it was not like that and our church was very special and wonderful.
When I was in my early 20s, I was conscripted into the service, it being war time. I was in the ATS .which was attached to the British Army. I did my training in Leicester, then moved to Derby. There were about 500 girls in our platoon. We lived in a huge old building, which had once been an orphanage. I was the only Latter-Day Saint there. We worked in an ordinance depot and worked long, hard hours. I had never been away from home before and was very homesick. One great blessing, we never had to work on a Sunday and were free to attend the church of our choice. Both in Leicester and Derby, I met wonderful saints. I will never forget their kindness to me. Nor will I ever forget the wonderful spirit in those little branches.
During this time, I was writing to Cyril John DURRANT. He was a member of our Latter-Day Saints Church and of our little branch in Norwich. He was in the Medical Corps of the British Army at this time. We had been out together when he was stationed fairly close to home and before I went into the services. Now we were writing to each other often. In fact, John (since going into the Army, he was called by his second name) wrote to me every day. By this time, he was overseas, stationed in many places, amongst which were Ceylon, Iraq and India. After about nine months of service, I was released, as I had developed rheumatoid arthritis. This had settled in one foot and I had great difficulty walking for quite a while. After returning home and, with warmth, rest and care, the trouble gradually cleared up and I was able to work. I had a nice job in a large audit office, which I enjoyed immensely.
In 1945, John came home from overseas. He arrived in Norwich on VE Day. We started wedding arrangements at once, and were married in our little Norwich branch by our Branch President, Brother Alfred WOODHOUSE, the following week, just nine days after John's return, on the 17 May 1945. After his leave, John had to return to his unit, but this time in England. I lived with his mother whilst he was away. Finally he had his release from the Army and returned home. The city of Norwich had been badly bombed and many, many homes were destroyed. Young people getting married lived with relatives, as no houses were available. Names of those needing homes were put on enormous lists at the City Hall. So it took years to get a house. We were more fortunate. My grandfather owned some houses and, when some tenants moved out, he offered us a nice little house and helped us paint it. It was a great joy to us to move into our own little home and greater joy when our first daughter was born on 7 February, 1947. We named her Christine Dianne.
In October of that year, we knew there would soon be another baby. We had planned on going to America at some future date, and now decided we should go soon and while I could still travel. So many arrangements had to be made. Our furniture etc., all of which we had for such a little time, had to be sold. Finally all the arrangements were made and we moved into my parents' home to stay until our departure for America. They were happy yet sad weeks in my parents' home. It was a happy home and lovely being with my parents but sad because we knew we would soon be leaving them.We left Norwich on12 February, 1948, by train with our family and friends to see us off. We went to Southampton and onto the boat the SS Washington. Everything on the boat was very nice, comfortable rooms and good food, little of which I could enjoy. I was very glad when we reached New York on the 21st February. John had enjoyed the voyage immensely, also his mother, who had come with us, and of course baby Christine, just past her first birthday, had a happy time wherever she was. We journeyed by train from New York to Salt Lake City. The journey had been very tiring for me, but I felt much better on the train. A crowd of friends were at Salt Lake to meet us and took us to one of their homes where we had a wonderful meal and visit with old friends, some of whom had preceded us to America. Some had known us in our little branch of the church in Norwich.”
Doris lived a long and full life in Utah, living firstly at Orem and then Provo where she stayed in the same house for the rest of her life. Doris and John had two more daughters (Marilyn and Jo-Anne) and a son (John). At the time of her death she still had a sister Elsie SHAILER living in Norwich. She also had 18 grandchildren and 50 great grandchildren (the number of which has since grown even more)
Doris DURRANT died in December 2011 at the age of 91.
WHAT do you think of when you hear the term Mormon or the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints? Many people, with a small amount of knowledge of the religion, will think of America, possibly Brigham Young, probably the Osmond Family and certainly Family History. For the Mormons have a massive family history/genealogy database which over the years has helped thousands of people to trace family trees. But did you know that many of today’s members of the faith had Norfolk roots?.
Just one of these was my second cousin Doris DURRANT (nee STEWARD) who married into the faith and left Norfolk for Provo in Utah just after the Second World War. Doris’ story of how she left these shores for a new life is probably typical of many other converts. Doris was born and brought up in Norwich and as a young girl attended both Calvert Street Methodist Church and the Mormon Church in Park Lane. The church in Park Lane has an interesting history. A tiny brick built chapel it was designed by Augustus SCOTT and built at the expense of James SPILLINGS who was editor of the Eastern Daily Press Newspaper. SPILLINGS was a follower of Emmanuel SWEDENBORG, the 18th century Swedish theological philosopher, who had a considerable following in Norwich which eventually declined. Within 20 years, the chapel was sold to the Mormons who worshipped there until moving to a larger building in Eaton, where they still meet. Today the building is a private house, but the current owner hires it out for concerts and other events.
Doris met and married Cyril DURRANT, a confirmed Mormon, and they set off for the United States on the US vessel Washington in 1948. A list of passengers shows that Doris and Cyril, who were aged 28 and 30, travelled with their daughter Christine, who was one, and Cyril's mother Emma who was 61. They entered their new homeland in New York and then journeyed to Utah by train. In 2010 I travelled to Utah to meet Doris and many members of her family. After I returned to England, Doris often phoned and we had long conversations about Norwich fuelled by her remarkable memory and love “of the old country.” She may have lived for 63 of her 91 years in America, but there were still traces of a Norfolk accent. What follows are Doris’ memories of growing up in Norwich and what led her to leave our shores
“My father's name was Arthur William STEWARD. He was born 28 December, 1893. His father's name was Arthur STEWARD, and he was also born in Norwich. His mother's maiden name was Eliza Rosy KELF. My mother's maiden name was Alice Harriet TUTTLE. She was born 18 January, 1893, in Norwich. Her father's name was Frederick TUTTLE and her mother's maiden name was Jeanette Elizabeth FOUNTAIN. I was a convert to the church, so I was not blessed in our LDS (Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints) Church, but was christened in the Methodist Church.
When we were very little girls, my two little sisters and I started Sunday School at the Methodist Church close by our home. It was held in the afternoon. We also attended evening services. At this time, my grandfather, Frederick TUTTLE, was superintendent of the Sunday School of the little branch in Norwich, of the LDS Church. As soon as my sisters and I were big enough to walk there, a lady who lived close by and who was a Latter-Day Saint, started to take us to Sunday School. It must have been two or three miles each way and a very long way for us to walk. We called the lady Auntie Mabel, and I recall that every few minutes we would say, "Are we half way there yet, Auntie Mabel?"
As I have mentioned, my grandfather was Sunday school superintendent, and I was very proud of him and enjoyed immensely attending Sunday school, (LDS in the morning and Methodist Sunday School in the afternoon). As I grew older, I began to realise there was a great difference in the two Sunday Schools I was attending. After much thought, study and prayer, I became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was 18 years old and was baptised on the 17 December, 1938 in our little chapel in the Norwich Branch in the British Mission. I was baptised by a missionary by the name of Francis PATTERSON and was confirmed by my grandfather, Frederick TUTTLE. What a wonderfully happy day that was. There were very few members of the church in Norwich, and I wanted everyone to know that I had become a member of the true church. I wanted them all to be as happy as I was. Of course, I knew there would be much criticism. People had many strange ideas and views of our church and could not understand my joining the Mormon Church. At that time, I was working mostly with ladies much older than myself. I was very shy. I did not talk of my religion as I felt I had so much to learn and understand. I knew I would be asked many questions. When a lady who I worked with learned I was a Latter-Day Saint, she could hardly believe it. I recall so well how she bounded into the room and said, in a very loud voice: "Are you a Mormon?" It seemed as though you could hear a pin drop as everyone turned to me. I told her I was, and she was truly astounded and said she didn't know how I dared. She told how when she was a little girl, her mother threatened them that the Mormons would take them away if they were naughty. She said even then, and at this time she was middle aged, she wouldn't dare walk by our chapel for fear someone would pull her in. In time, I was able to convince her that it was not like that and our church was very special and wonderful.
When I was in my early 20s, I was conscripted into the service, it being war time. I was in the ATS .which was attached to the British Army. I did my training in Leicester, then moved to Derby. There were about 500 girls in our platoon. We lived in a huge old building, which had once been an orphanage. I was the only Latter-Day Saint there. We worked in an ordinance depot and worked long, hard hours. I had never been away from home before and was very homesick. One great blessing, we never had to work on a Sunday and were free to attend the church of our choice. Both in Leicester and Derby, I met wonderful saints. I will never forget their kindness to me. Nor will I ever forget the wonderful spirit in those little branches.
During this time, I was writing to Cyril John DURRANT. He was a member of our Latter-Day Saints Church and of our little branch in Norwich. He was in the Medical Corps of the British Army at this time. We had been out together when he was stationed fairly close to home and before I went into the services. Now we were writing to each other often. In fact, John (since going into the Army, he was called by his second name) wrote to me every day. By this time, he was overseas, stationed in many places, amongst which were Ceylon, Iraq and India. After about nine months of service, I was released, as I had developed rheumatoid arthritis. This had settled in one foot and I had great difficulty walking for quite a while. After returning home and, with warmth, rest and care, the trouble gradually cleared up and I was able to work. I had a nice job in a large audit office, which I enjoyed immensely.
In 1945, John came home from overseas. He arrived in Norwich on VE Day. We started wedding arrangements at once, and were married in our little Norwich branch by our Branch President, Brother Alfred WOODHOUSE, the following week, just nine days after John's return, on the 17 May 1945. After his leave, John had to return to his unit, but this time in England. I lived with his mother whilst he was away. Finally he had his release from the Army and returned home. The city of Norwich had been badly bombed and many, many homes were destroyed. Young people getting married lived with relatives, as no houses were available. Names of those needing homes were put on enormous lists at the City Hall. So it took years to get a house. We were more fortunate. My grandfather owned some houses and, when some tenants moved out, he offered us a nice little house and helped us paint it. It was a great joy to us to move into our own little home and greater joy when our first daughter was born on 7 February, 1947. We named her Christine Dianne.
In October of that year, we knew there would soon be another baby. We had planned on going to America at some future date, and now decided we should go soon and while I could still travel. So many arrangements had to be made. Our furniture etc., all of which we had for such a little time, had to be sold. Finally all the arrangements were made and we moved into my parents' home to stay until our departure for America. They were happy yet sad weeks in my parents' home. It was a happy home and lovely being with my parents but sad because we knew we would soon be leaving them.We left Norwich on12 February, 1948, by train with our family and friends to see us off. We went to Southampton and onto the boat the SS Washington. Everything on the boat was very nice, comfortable rooms and good food, little of which I could enjoy. I was very glad when we reached New York on the 21st February. John had enjoyed the voyage immensely, also his mother, who had come with us, and of course baby Christine, just past her first birthday, had a happy time wherever she was. We journeyed by train from New York to Salt Lake City. The journey had been very tiring for me, but I felt much better on the train. A crowd of friends were at Salt Lake to meet us and took us to one of their homes where we had a wonderful meal and visit with old friends, some of whom had preceded us to America. Some had known us in our little branch of the church in Norwich.”
Doris lived a long and full life in Utah, living firstly at Orem and then Provo where she stayed in the same house for the rest of her life. Doris and John had two more daughters (Marilyn and Jo-Anne) and a son (John). At the time of her death she still had a sister Elsie SHAILER living in Norwich. She also had 18 grandchildren and 50 great grandchildren (the number of which has since grown even more)
Doris DURRANT died in December 2011 at the age of 91.