HOW TOC H STARTED 

Toc H was founded in 1915 during the First World War in the Belgium town called Poperinge on the Western Front. It was here that Rev Tubby Clayton secured an old brewery and on the 11 December 1915, Talbot House was opened for the first time.  Named after Gilbert Talbot, the brilliant younger brother of Neville Talbot, later bishop of Pretoria – Gilbert was killed in the first German liquid fire atttack at Hooge. The name of the Organisation was derived from the name Talbot House – Toc H being the morse abbreviation for T H – Talbot House.   

TOC H SOUTH AFRICA

Rev Harry Ellison travelled to South Africa and with the help of Mr H V Oldfield started the first branch of Toc H in South Africa on the 25th February 1925, in Keiskama Hoek. Many more branches subsequently opened all over the country. Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown, Somerset East, Oudtshoorn, Cradock to name only a few. In 1975 there where 1000 registered members in South Africa, the largest number of members in any country outside of Britain. 

TOC H DURING THE APARTHEID ERA 

"Toc H records show that “The Constitution of Toc H adopted in 1933 did not restrict membership to  any one racial or colour group. Services were at that time directed toward disadvantaged groups instead of with them and their communities. Toc H publications record that “At the end of the 1950's a growing concern developed among members who were unable to avoid the over-riding consideration that a colour bar was contrary to the ideals of Toc H".  " The S A Council meeting of 1958 agreed that for a period of two years the membership should receive a planned course of study and instruction at unit and area level, with the purpose of convincing the members that the biggest contribution Toc H has to make in South Africa is to remove all trace of colour discrimination."