188 Years of The Stanhill Methodist Church

trips to Lytham, Epworth and London. Displays in church of Christmas Around the World, of Parables and of Holy Week. All the events over the years have reached out to the community and have adhered to the Calling of the Methodist Church, which is to respond to the Gospel of God’s Love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in Worship and Mission. As members of the Methodist Church we are called to Worship. Learning and caring through Bible Study and Fellowship Groups. Service to the community. Evangelism through working out our Faith and sharing Christ with others. The Church Council Meeting in February was to change the future of Stanhill Methodist Church, when the two stewards, Hilda Lamb and Helen Plummer resigned due to failing health. (We think of the words of John Wesley’s Rule: Do all the good you can, …… As long as ever you can.) The meeting had the opportunity to go away and think of a solution. There being only 8 or 9 in the congregation all of whom have health problems, it was a difficult situation. An extra Church Council meeting in March had to be decision time. Still no one able to be Treasurer or Stewards the meeting had to vote whether to close the church. The vote was unanimous to close but really taken out of our hands because there was just no one to take on these roles. It is a long process to close a Methodist Church. The future of the building is unknown at the time of writing. On 19th July we heard the sad news that Gladys Smith (nee Silcock) had passed away. Gladys was part of our Church family and was born and bred in Stanhill, baptised here, attended Sunday School, then becoming a Sunday School teacher, playing the violin in the orchestra at the sermons. Gladys was at the Church council meeting in March when the decision was made to close. Gladys said “After all these years, I am not going to be able to have my funeral here.” But unbeknown at the time, God had closure for her and we were all able to say our goodbyes to Gladys in the Church which meant so much to her.

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