Albert Lock, Florence Lock

Albert Alfred Frank Lock was born in London on 30 June 1917. He studied at Selly Oak and later at St. Andrews. He married Florence Adelaide Shearman in January 1941 (Florence was born in London on 22 July 1922). In August 1945, he was called to his first full-time pastorate at Finchingfield Congregational Church in north Essex, then to Orsett Congregational Church in south-east Essex, and Lowestoft, Suffolk. He was Ordained and Valedicted on 22 September 1956. He was appointed to Southern Africa with the London Missionary Society and sailed for the Bechuanaland Protectorate with Florence in October 1956. He was based at Kanye for six months of language study, 1956-1957. He and his wife were stationed at Francistown, May 1957-1961, and Serowe, Bechuanaland Protectorate [later Botswana], 1961-1975. This was during the important transition period and the run-up to self-government and independence for the church as well as the state. Consultations had begun for the uniting of the London Missionary Society and Congregationalism in Southern Africa, which involved Albert in five years of discussions. The Congregational Church of South Africa (UCCSA) was formed in 1967 covering six regions, with Rev J K Main as its first Chairman. Albert Lock was appointed Treasurer of the Botswana region and set up the framework for the maintenance of the ministry. He later became Moderator/Secretary while training an African minister for the post. In February 1968, he was asked to stand for election as Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Botswana. He was duly elected in the March Parliament and held the post for 12 years. In 1973 he was awarded the CBE for service to Church and Community. He was based in Gaborone, Botswana, 1975-1979, when he resigned from overseas service and returned to the Home Ministry. From November 1979 he spent over two years with West Sussex URC Group of Churches. He died on 5 May 1985.