Hoddesdon Methodist Church

1929 - 1979

Jubilee Souvenir Brochure

50 YEARS OF WORSHIP - WITNESS - SERVICE
FROM THE
METHODIST CHURCH
MIDDLEFIELD ROAD
HODDESDON

Celebrations for Jubilee Year 1979

GREETINGS PRESIDENT - 1978-79 

I am very happy to write this greeting for you on the occasion of your Jubilee. It is good to hear news of your life and witness, and of all the many opportunities you have.

You will naturally spend a fair amount of time in your Jubilee looking back. Christians of all people should be interested in history, since God chose to show himself in history through Jesus Christ, and has continued to do so through the Church built on that foundation. You will have many memories you wish to treat with great respect, and to express your thanks for those who have led you to the point of faith where you now stand.

I am sure, however, that you will also wish to spend a fair amount of time considering your present situation. You have a lively and growing society around you, and there must be many opportunities for reaching still further into it with the good news of the gospel and with service in the name of Christ. There is also a great need in our churches these days to spend more time together in prayer and Bible study, so that we may help one another to understand more deeply what our message is and to enter more fully into it. The combination of this digging deeper into our faith and reaching further into our community is surely a proper balance, which we all need. And our times of formal worship together should somehow bind the two into one whole activity of the people of God.

I am very happy that in your Jubilee year I will be visiting the church, and I am looking forward very much to meeting you. The greatest lesson we are all learning day-by-day is that whether we are thinking of past or present or future, at the centre of our faith there is, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever".

I wish you well and assure you of my prayers.

Donald English

CHAIRMAN OF DISTRICT 

My first visit to Hoddesdon was on the occasion of the Opening of your new Church Hall shortly after my arrival in the district. It was an exciting moment, with crowds of people present to see the attractive new premises, and all the promise of the development of our work through the enlarged facilities.

Such moments are to be savoured, and I hope that the Jubilee celebrations will again provide occasions of inspiration, with visions of all that God is calling us to experience in His Name, and that we may do in response to His invitation to share in the redemption of the world. 

Growth is firmly on the agenda of the churches today. A long period of self- searching and institutional doubt has brought us back to the fundamentals of our faith, with new emphasis on evangelism, personal experience of Jesus as Saviour, and that witnessing discipleship which requires a meeting place, a power-house of worship and fellowship which the institutional churches can supply when they too experience renewal.

I believe that we are in such a situation. This will mean that some churches will at last agree to close down, or join up with nearby Christian groups, for the advancement of the Gospel. It will equally mean that, where we are clear that God wants us to remain, we shall look to the future for growth in spirituality and effective strength, and that the more confidently because there is a world growth movement going on everywhere, and we are a part of it.

The days which really count, however, are not the Jubilees, but the ordinary ones. Time when nothing seems to happen, when only a few will shoulder the responsibilities. And the work that really counts has often been done unknown to most, unheralded by any, the faithful performance of mundane tasks for the sake' of Jesus, by which the church has been kept alive for this great Jubilee celebration. I send my congratulations, and best wishes, for the Jubilee; and pray that because of it the whole congregation may be enheartened to continue the work which God has given you to do in Hoddesdon for all time to come. 

Deryck C. Collingwood

SUPERINTENDENT MINISTER 

Dear Friends,

The celebration of the building of any church after 50 years means a lot of work for those to whom the responsibilities for arranging it have been given, and my first word is one of congratulation to Rev. David Coombs and the Committee. This is going to be a grand occasion and the presence of the President of the Conference on the Sunday evening is a great privilege. There must be things like this going on all over the connexion every week and Rev. Donald English can't possibly be at them all so we congratulate you upon this success for a start.

The thrill of such an event as this is that the vision of those in the past who built this Church with such sacrifice and courage has been vindicated. They in their turn were consolidating the witness of Methodism in this area over many years.

My second word is one of admiration for the vigour and resolve of the present members at Hoddesdon, for you have added to, and greatly enhanced, the possibilities of these premises for the work of God in this neighbourhood.

Hoddesdon is a real Church of the community with far-ranging out-reach and not a cosy gathered flock and this augurs well for the future, for God will surely honour such a people whose greatest desire is to love folk into the Kingdom.

May God crown with his blessing all your endeavours now and in the future. Hold to Christ now and then others will one day be celebrating what you did under God.

Sincerely yours,

David M. Caink

The Beginnings 

Methodism in Hoddesdon is thought to have commenced in 1883 when a small company of people, some of whom were Methodists, used to meet in what was known as the Coffee Tavern or Temperance Hall in Lord Street, a building which was built in 1883. There Services were held and a Sunday School carried on. 

Five years later, the Wesleyan Methodists, as they were then called, felt themselves sufficient in number to acquire a building exclusively their own. This was erected in Roman Street and is still standing and now known as Oddfellows Hall. In 1920 the small community worshipping there numbered about thirty. Pulpit supplies were largely through Local Preachers, the Circuit Minister taking services once a month. Membership grew and the building of a new Church was gradually being considered. Eventually a definite decision was made and a site was sought.

At about this time the corner site at Middlefield Road on what was then the northern outskirts of the town came on the market. The site was approved and when the vendor knew the purpose for which it was required he immediately reduced the price from £400 to £200 and later made a donation towards the new building. A deposit on the land was paid in April 1926 and the contract completed in July 1926. 

It was hoped that the site would eventually comprise A Manse for the Minister, the present Church (which was considered to be the School Hall) and a larger Church on the corner.

The New Building 

It was nearly three years later before the foundations were laid and on May 2nd 1929 the stone laying ceremony took place. The official opening ceremony took place on October 16th of that year, with the visiting minister being Rev. Ensor Walters - a well-known Methodist of those days. 

Apart from the Church, there was the 'Parlour' and three vestries together with a kitchen and other offices most of which are still in use. 

The opening of the Church together with new housing development round it provided new impetus for the Society and it wasn't long before the Church was filled to capacity for most Sunday evening Services. 

The Church had not been opened free of debt and those years (the 1930's) were times of economic depression in the country. Various events were held to clear the debt but it was not until a three day Grand Floral Bazaar was held in 1938 that sufficient money was raised to enable grants to be claimed from various Church Departments and the burden of debt eliminated. Up to that time, the outstanding money had been on loan from a lady who was content to await repayment when convenient, the loan being practically interest free. 

The Wesley Hall 

It soon became evident that the new premises were inadequate for social activities and other meetings some of which had to be held in other halls in the district. It was decided to erect a Hall for use until a more permanent building could be provided. In 1935, thanks to help provided by an enthusiastic band of volunteer helpers, the Wesley Hall took shape and was duly put into service. It was used to the full by various Church organisations such as the Women’s Guild, the Wesley Guild, Young peoples groups and certain sections of the Sunday School. The provision of a stage enabled many concerts to take place. Once again it was found that more room was needed and a scheme was put forward to increase the capacity of the Hall by nearly one half. The outbreak of the Second World War prevented any attempt to put this scheme into effect and it was not until 1951 that this extra work was completed. 

The Manse 

Apart from one year, the first fifteen years or so of the new Church, a Probationer Minister served the Society.  He also had pastoral oversight of the Church at Cheshunt. The exception being the year when a Lay Pastor was appointed with Hoddesdon as his sole charge. This was to build up and consolidate the work. 

Probationer Ministers did not stay long in an appointment - quite often not more than one year. They came with all the enthusiasm and vision of youth, which ensured the life of any Church in their charge was not allowed to become static. 

In 1946 with increasing membership, it was decided to appoint an older married Minister instead of a Probationer and a small house was obtained - 40 Middlefield Road - for a Manse. Though a small house it was occupied by the Ministers for over ten years. It was realised that this house was not suitable as a Manse and after some time a scheme was inaugurated to provide a more adequate dwelling. Plans were prepared and eventually accepted. Funds had been accumulating towards the project for some years and eventually in November 1958 the building was completed. The sale of the old Manse together with the money in hand enabled the new Manse to be occupied very largely free of debt. - So the second building originally envisaged for the site - The Manse - had materialised. In the last year or two, a modest extension has been made to this property to make it more suitable for a larger family.

In 1961 the Leaders decided that the time was ripe for a Stewardship Campaign.  A visit from the appropriate department of .the Methodist Church was arranged and the Society was briefed as to what was entailed and the approximate cost of launching the Campaign. It was agreed that it was essential to have the full support of the whole Church if success was to be achieved. The preparation was put in hand to launch the Campaign at a special function in 1962.  240 members and friends attended this function during which the challenge of the Campaign was accepted on behalf of the various sections of the Society. It was a most memorable day in the history of the Church.

The New Complex 

The Wesley Hall had continued in full use but there was need for a larger hall and other premises - because the hall was inadequate, the Boys Brigade attached to the Church had, since its formation, to meet in other premises. 

The Church, which was, originally to be a school hall, was now considered adequate as a place of Worship, both in size and design, and the original intention to build a larger Church on the corner site was abandoned. An ambitious scheme of a new Hall and kitchen with two meeting rooms and a store gradually evolved. The whole new complex was to build onto the present building in which certain alterations were to take place. Annual Methodist Markets and other fund raising activities accumulated funds over years. Substantial gifts were promised by the Connexional Departments of the Church and especially by the Joseph Rank Benevolent Trust (without which the new premises could not have been built). Finally in 1972 plans were agreed, the old Wesley Hall dismantled and sold (not without some regret) and the way made clear for the new buildings. 

The new premises were finally built and opened on February 24th 1973 by Paul Bartlett Lang, Esq., on behalf of the Joseph Rank Benevolent Trust. Others present were the Chairman of the District, Rev. Deryck C. Collingwood, B.A., the Superintendent Minister of the Circuit, Rev. Charles T. Gill and our own Minister Rev. Edwin Sutton. After the opening ceremony, there followed tree planting and (in the evening) an entertainment. On the following day, Sunday February 25th, Thanksgiving Services were held and a former minister, Rev. Bernard Reynolds, conducted these. 

Thus was completed a fine suite of buildings providing an important centre of Worship and Service in the midst of an area of the town which had seen considerable development particularly in the latter half of the fifty years since the opening of the Church. 

At the present time membership stands at 142 but there are several hundred more in touch with the Church through the various activities. There follows an account of the beginnings and growth of these activities. 

Leaders of these activities have given the story of the beginnings and growth as well as the present position of these activities. While it has not been possible to use all the interesting details, nor to mention the many people involved, there follows some record of the activities from the information supplied. 

The work of the Sunday School, which had begun very early in the life of Methodism in Hoddesdon, was continued in the new Church. The children met on Sunday afternoon. It is now known as the Junior Church and since just before the building of the new hall, has been meeting on Sunday morning sharing in the first part of worship and then dispersing for their own activities. The Junior Church is graded according to various age groups, each of the four groups being taught and entering into activity appropriate to its age range. Even those not old enough to take part in the Beginners Department are cared for while their parents attend Morning Worship in a Crèche which is organised for them. Despite the building of the new premises, there is still insufficient room for carrying on the work satisfactorily, and this is the most important reason for the Jubilee project; the installation of an acoustic partition in the main hall to enable it to be used by two groups at the same time. 

An important feature of the Church's contact with the families it is in touch with is the Cradle Roll on which are entered the names of all children baptised in the Church. Successive Cradle Roll Secretaries have sought to maintain contact with the families and introduce the children to Junior Church when of age. 

From 1934, the children have maintained a practical interest in the Missionary Work of the Church through the Junior Missionary Association. Over the years members of this association have collected £5,319 for the Missionary work and the increasing amount, which is collected each week, shows the enthusiasm of the collectors and an attempt to keep up to date with money values. Not only are the children in the Association money collectors, but they seek to learn, pray and serve that people all over the world may know and love Jesus. 

Outside the Junior Church, on Sunday, the two organisations seeking to meet the needs of children and young people during the week are the uniformed organisations of the Boys Brigade and the Girls Brigade.
The first recruits of the Boys Brigade came on parade in September 1955, under the direction of enthusiastic leaders who had wide experience of this movement.
The Boys Brigade Company prospered and soon a team of the younger boys, known then as Life Boys was started. This is now known as the Junior Section of the Boys Brigade Company. 
The many sided activities of the Boys Brigade have been maintained over the years by volunteer helpers as well as the leaders or officers who have continued the work. In the forefront of these activities has been the object of the Boys Brigade, the advancement of Christ's Kingdom among the boys and a Bible Class has been, and still is an important feature of the: Company.
It is of some satisfaction that as the boys have grown up they have been prepared to take on leadership within the work, the present Captain himself beginning his association with the Company in this way. 
For almost 10 years the funds of the Boys Brigade have come from the unusual method of the collection and sale of waste paper - almost 300 tonnes having been processed in this period. The 2nd Girls Brigade Company was formed on 9th April 1969 and has been maintained by many loyal workers, some who have continued throughout the whole of the ten years. As with the Boys Brigade, there is a great variety of activity and most of the girls attend Junior Church and are a real part of the Church family.

This meets at 9.15 a.m. four day~ in the week (Tuesday to Friday inclusive). It is superintended by a qualified leader assisted by an enthusiastic team of helpers, who provide a variety of activities suitable for the very young not old enough for the Infants School. A very valuable service is thus being provided for the community. 

There is also a Mother & Toddler Club, which meets on two afternoons each week, and in conjunction with the Nursery School.

It was in the 'old' Church that the choir was first started as the result of a party of members singing carols at Christmas time. This experience suggested that there was the nucleus of a choir and so the choir came into being. During the last 50 years it has carried on and, although membership has fluctuated considerably, it still functions every Sunday. At present, owing to many members having left the district and three of the older members having passed on, the choir is not able to provide l the variety of singing that they would like. 

At special times, like Christmas, Easter and Harvest Festival, special anthems and cantatas were given and much appreciated by the congregation, and the choir has provided much help to the New Church Building Fund. 

We look forward to the choir being reformed and assuming a prominent place in the leading of the worship of the Church.

For the members of the Church, apart from the Services of Worship, there has been a meeting during the week for Fellowship, Bible Study and Prayer during most of the 50 years of the present Church building. This has usually been led by the Minister and, at present, meets every other week on Tuesday in the homes of the members. Not many attend in relation to the membership, but it is open to any who desire to enter into a closer discipleship of their Lord through their Church. 

The Young Wives Group meet each Tuesday afternoon at 2.00 p.m.-3.30 p.m. (except during the school holidays) in the Meeting Room. Five very capable “aunties” in the Hall care for the children and babies. All young wives and mothers are welcome. 

Each meeting is opened with a hymn and a prayer and then followed by a speaker, demonstration, film show or discussion. 

Every month we have a devotional afternoon and a knit & natter afternoon. 

A very great deal of gratitude is due to the committee for various projects. For many years they have been responsible for the Annual Methodist Market. 

At first, these functions were held in the Tudor Hall, Conduit lane, as our own Wesley Hall was not large enough. Since 1973, when our new premises were completed, the market has been held in the new Church hall, which must have been a source of great satisfaction to this committee when we remember the very substantial financial help they have been responsible for, much of which contributed towards the cost of the new building. In addition to financial help to the Church, we have been able to help the local community by providing lifting equipment for the elderly at "Belmont" Old Peoples Home in Hoddesdon and more recently a substantial donation towards the cost of a therapeutic Swimming Pool at Amwell View School.

The recently improved lighting in the main hall has been much appreciated and the cost was met from funds raised at the Methodist Market and permanent screens urgently needed for the Main Hall and improved heating in the Meeting Room.

On Monday, 14th January, 1952, 20 men met in the Parlour under the chairmanship of the Rev. C.C. Eastwood, with a view to forming a Lodge of the League. The actual inauguration took place in February of that year. 

Although the League is non-denominational, most of the Lodge members have also been members of the Church, consequently, the Methodist Church became the headquarters of the Lodge and has continued so to this day. 

The aim of the organisation shall be to promote a Fellowship of Christian men to further the objects of the League, which are to follow the example of the Good Samaritan, to exercise Christian charity; to do good to all in need and endeavour to enlarge the spirit which makes the League possible. Since the constitution was drawn up, the rules have been amended respecting membership and ladies are now welcomed to the League.

The first meeting of this organisation took place in 1933, replacing the Ladies Sewing Meeting, which had been functioning for many years and had been responsible for raising considerable sums of money for the new Church. The new meeting started with 15 members and, although membership fluctuated over the years, at present there is about 45 on the membership roll. They support various organisations, including Womens' Work Overseas, the British and Foreign Bible Society, Help the Aged and many other causes that appeal to them. 

The meetings are still mainly religious but we try to branch out and associate ourselves with affairs going on in the world around us. 

We have an Anniversary Service with the privilege of selecting the special preacher for the Morning Service. The following day a rally is held to which are invited various women's meetings in the district and circuit and other denominations. This is usually attended by almost 80 ladies. 

The Guild meets on Monday afternoons and is open to all ladies from 2.00 p.m.- 4.00 p.m.

MESSAGE FROM JUBILEE YEAR MINISTER 

I am 'jubilated' to be the present minister of the Hoddesdon Methodist Church family. I would invite new readers to 'share our joy' by being as involved with us as much as possible and thrilling to the personal love of our Living Lord. 

God has blessed us with lovely premises and deserves lovely people to make full use of them to His glory. 

We need His renewing grace as we embark on our next fifty years so we will be sharing One Step Forward's 'Operation Agape' from September 9th. This will be a wonderful way of deepening our Christian love for each other and then bringing others in to share that love. 

'We stand always and everywhere for all that Jesus stood for. Jesus has broken down all barriers. He is all that matters and He is changing the whole life of mankind.' (Colossians and Corinthians, Alan Dale 'New World'). The love of Jesus drives us on. 

Yours because of His Love, 

David Coombs

List of Ministers since the opening of the Church in 1929

1925/28 Rev. Karl R. Kitt
1928/29 Rev. James Isherwood
1929/31 Rev. Russell Hall
1931/32 Pastor Stuart Terrell
1932/34 Rev. Alfred Cartwright
1934/37 Rev. Paul E. Morton-George, M.A.
1937/40 Rev. Arthur J. Dent
1940/41 Rev. Peter Morley, B.D.
1941/44 Rev. Norman Tetlaw
1944/46 Rev. A. Ronald Dyer, M.A.
1946/48 Rev. Eric F. Rolls, M.A., B.D.
1948/51 Rev. Basil Huett, B.A., B.D.
1951/57 Rev. C. Cyril Eastwood, Ph.D.
1957/62 Rev. Herbert Bent
1962/69 Rev. Bernard Reynolds
1969/74 Rev. Edwin Sutton
1974/ Rev. David F. L. Coombs

Sunday
10.30 a.m. Morning Worship - Junior Church
5.45 p.m. Prayer Meeting
6.30 p.m. Evening Worship
Holy Communion as announced

Monday
2.30 p.m. Women's Guild
6.45 p.m. Boys' Brigade - Junior Section
8.00 p.m. League of the Good Samaritan (fortnightly) 

Tuesday
9.15 a.m. Nursery School
2.15 p.m. Young Wives (Crèche provided)
5.15 p.m. Girls' Brigade - Explorers
6.30 p.m. Girls' Brigade - Juniors
7.30 p.m. Girls' Brigade - Seniors and Brigaders
8.00 p.m. Church Fellowship (fortnightly) 

Wednesday
9.15 a.m. Nursery School
2.00 p.m. Mother & Toddler Club
8.00 p.m. Boys' Brigade - Company Section 

Thursday
9.15 a.m. Nursery School
2.00 p.m. Mother & Toddler Club
8.00 p.m. Boys' Brigade - Company Section

Friday
9.15 a.m. Nursery School.