Gladys Aylward - Wembley's own Saint
By Ray Schaufeld
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Many of you have seen the movie - the Inn of the 6th happiness.
It features the true story of Gladys Aylward, Wembley's very own saint and missionary.
Born into a humble family , Gladys Dad was a cooper, or barrel maker as we now know it. Mum worked behind the bar of the Hop Bine in North Wembley.
The Hop Bine was reputed to have 'a rough element' but it was a lively music pub and my Dads work colleague Pip served behind the bar, pulling pints when he was not hard at work doing his, then 2 year training as a student physiotherapist.
Pip always said Gladys mum Veronica was a jolly old bird.
Anyway the rest is film. Gladys joined the missions and with a song in her heart she helped the poor and hungry, feeding the world wherever she was able.
She is a canonised saint.
The musical ot the second stage of her life 'the twelve steps and back again' features her brief fight and her victory against whisky gin and vodka.
The filmed is made on location at the Hop Bine and is ready to be distrubuted and shown in movie theatres in Usa and uk.
Cheers to Gladys Aylward!! a true rolle model and Wembleys very own canonised saint.
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not seen either. It's a hard
not seen either. It's a hard job being a saint. My mum was one, of course.
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It is good to see her name
It is good to see her name raised here.
The movie was interesting but it troubled her as it was romanticised. I've never heard of a follow-up, but have read various books about her life. I don't understand how you say she was 'canonised' as she followed scripture where all who simply believe and are forgiven in Christ are called 'saints' which just means 'forgiven and set apart to serve God now'. In the book I have by me ['Chinese Whispers' - the Gladys Aylward story, by Carol Purves, published by DayOne publications] it talks about her early life in Edmonton and her parents asThomas Aylward who married Rosina Whiskin, who was involved in lively speaking for the Temperance movement as she had suffered from the effect of drink on her own family.
Gladys, with little schooling, but a firm sense of God calling her, travelled so far, and over the years became the means of help and hope to thousands of children and women in China, and was highly respected there. And so by many over here impressed by her quiet dedication and often in the midst of dangers with faith. Rhiannon
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