A series of meetings were held on Tuesday evenings at 7pm for one hour at which various papers were read.  Subjects were diverse as:

The Mother of The Wesleys
Man In The Moon
Recollections of South Africa in 1848
Devonshire Farming
Leather Dressing
Travels into Switzerland - using OXYHYDROGEN LIMELIGHT VIEWS when it was reported Mr Elsden and Mr Young paid for gas and met part expenses of an ostler, at 6d.

At subsequent meetings topics ranged from The Discovery and Systems of Marconi’s Wireless to Miss Ashley’s account of A Woman’s Influence on Man, which sadly was cancelled and replaced by three papers entitled George Eliot, The Cultivation Of Onions and The Infancy of the Iron Horse.

Musical evenings were also held and a programme for one of these follows:

Recitation: The Priest and the Lady - Mrs Peck
Reading: Mrs Brown at the Royal Academy - Mr Broad
Solo: The Holy City - Mr Bailey
Violin Solo & Piano Forte Solo:
Mrs Broad and Miss Booker
Solo: Star of Bethlehem - Master Booker
Reading: Three Brass Balls - Mr Peck
Solo: Wait Till The Turn of the Tide
Solo: Queen Of The Earth - Master Booker
Duet: Joe Perkins - Mr W & F Bailey
Reading: The Razor Seller - Mr Broad
Finally ending the performance with the Jeremiah Eames Rankin’s hymn: God Be With You Till We Meet Again.

A collection of 18/5d was produced.  These were certainly the good old days!

(For anyone wishing to read these early day minutes, they can be found now in the County Archive Office in Hertford.)

On June 13 1891, nestling between two newsworthy reports of a Ladies Cricket Match in Hertford and a charge of burglary at Datchworth, the Hertford Mercury reported on the Wesley Centenary Chapel, thus:

The Memorial Stones of the proposed Wesley Centenary Chapel at Watton will be placed on Monday 18 June 1891 when the President of the Conference, the Rev. P. Thompson (London Mission), Alderman Cardell, JP and Rev. B.T.  Hallowes will take part in the proceedings.  A large party will leave Hertford for Watton at about 1.30pm and over 200 tickets for the public tea have already been disposed of.

It is known that Wesleyans had been holding cottage services at Watton since 1841 and from time to time, the idea of building a chapel had been mooted.  It was not until the Rev F. Tunbridge was appointed superintendent of the Hertford Circuit that definite steps were taken to erect a building.

Negotiations for the purchase of a suitable piece of land at Watton commenced, but considerable difficulties were experienced.  It seemed likely at one time that the projected scheme would have to be abandoned, however, in 1890 a plot of ground was purchased for £130.  Circulars were at once issued appealing for subscriptions and it was agreed that the whole project should be a Wesley Centenary effort.  It was felt that there was a genuine need for a chapel at Watton, which at that time had a population of over 1,000 people, with no Non-conformist place of worship within a reasonable distance.

Promises of liberal support were made from all parts of the country and the building finally commenced in May 1891.  It was hoped that the building would be ready for the opening of services in August 1891 and designed to take 120 persons, with a small schoolroom in the rear to take 40 children.

The Chapel and the schoolroom were built at the same height in order, eventually, for them to become one, with a new schoolroom to be built at the rear.  The building itself was built on simple Gothic lines.  A ceremony for the laying of memorial stones took place on Monday 15^th June 1891 in the presence of a large gathering of some 300 people.  The proceedings commenced with the singing of the hymn Praise Ye The Lord!  It’s Good To Raise, Your Hearts And Voices In His Praise. Devotional exercises were led by the Rev. J. Gibson and followed by another hymn Christ Is Our Cornerstone, On Him Alone We Build. In his address the Rev Tunbridge said he noticed with satisfaction that the Non-conformist churches were being drawn closer together and what was really wanted was that all Protestant churches in England should become united and be one in spirit, standing shoulder to shoulder.  He said “We are the friends of all and enemies of none!”

Rev Tunbridge made a financial statement and at the conclusion of this the memorial stones were placed in position.  The first stone on which £20 was placed, was laid “in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” by the President of the Wesleyan Conference on behalf of Mr and Mrs R. B. Jackson of Tottenham.  In a cavity under the stone was placed a bottle hermetically sealed containing copies of the Hertfordshire Mercury, the Herts Guardian, the Methodist Recorder, Joyful News, a circuit plan and six new coins.

Other stones were laid and after the ceremony, the whole company adjourned to a large marquee for tea, which had been provided by the various friends in Watton.  It had been planned to hold an evening meeting in the marquee, but there was a hurricane of wind and rain and part of the marquee was blown into shreds.  A large barn was placed at the disposal of those present and the evening meeting continued with considerable enthusiasm.  Such was the fighting spirit of those early day Wesleyans.

The anticipated opening date of August 1891 came and passed and it was not until Wednesday, October 14^th that the Wesley Centenary Chapel opened its doors for the first service.

The Mercury reported on Saturday October 17^th 1891 as follows:

The Wesleyans in Watton and the neighbourhood now possess what for a long time they have much desired, a suitable building in which to meet and in which services can be conducted from time to time.  At three o’clock, the time fixed for the formal opening of the doors of the church, a large number of persons, many of whom had come a considerable distance, were assembled outside the principal entrance.  The hymn Great God, Thy Watchful Care We Bless, Which Guards These Sacred Courts In Peace was sung and Mrs C.A. Morris of London, by invitation of the Rev J. E. Creasy circuit minister, then opened the Chapel.    The building was almost immediately filled and the opening service proceeded with the Rev C.H. Kelly ex-President of Conference officiating.  At the close of the service an adjournment was made to a large shed lent kindly by Mr Newman, where tea was partaken by a large number of persons.  At the later evening service the Rev Creasy made a financial statement to the effect that the total cost of the chapel was £600 and it was with considerable pleasure that he announced the fact that the building had been opened FREE Of DEBT. 

And so the firm foundations of Methodism were laid down at Watton and many people came together in God’s name offering their own talents and gifts to spread His word.   We thank God for these people and their Christian endeavours on our behalf.

Text of the sermon given at the opening services October 14^th 1891:

Rev C.H. Kelly, ex-President of the Conference officiating.  The certificate of the registration of the chapel as a place of worship was read, and another hymn having been sung the Rev C.H. Kelly offered a suitable prayer.  The lessons were 2 Chronicles 6 and Luke 4 verses 16 to end.  Appropriate hymns were also sung, and the Hertford Choir rendered Sir John Stainer’s well-known anthem “Ye shall dwell in the land.”  The sermon was preached by the Rev C.H. Kelly from Jude, part of verse 3, “Ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”  During a forcible discourse the rev. gentleman urged upon his hearers that the Christians of the present day were exactly in the same position as the early Christians.  The religion that was then given to them for their enjoyment, for promulgation, and for them to defend was exactly the same as that given today, and the experience of the Church in the early days of the Christian era was a similar experience to that of the present-day Church because history repeated itself.  If they were to carefully study the history of the Apostolic Church in the first century they would find notwithstanding the blessed results of Apostolic preaching and work there was much to be regretted; and they would also find that there never took place a revival of religion on a large scale in which there would not be incidents that scoffers could make capital out of.    It would not be wise, however, to take upon oneself to refute all the stupid statements made by those who were opposed to the dissemination of Christian truths, because if one troubled one’s brains about everything that foolish people said, no time would be left to carry out more important work.  And there was work of the greatest importance to be done.

They should earnestly contend for the faith as revealed in the Scriptures, and he urged those present, especially those who were going to take an interest in the building just erected, that there was no substitute under the sun for thorough-going earnest devotion in the cause of God.  If they wanted the Wesley Centenary Church at Watton to prosper they must work.  It was not enough to erect a building, though that was doing much; it was not enough to subscribe towards the cost of it, though God would accept their gifts, but if they wanted God’s blessing to rest upon it they must work, and why should they not work?  This was the time for toil and strife, and earnest efforts should be made to spread the truths of Christianity.  The nation was blessed by such work as that in which they had been engaged at Watton.  He never saw a real place of worship being erected in which real prayer and praise would be offered to God without a feeling of thankfulness, because he knew that the nation must benefit from it.  Every brick in the building like that in which they were assembled, every brick in a church, school, or chapel, was one brick less in a workhouse or a prison, and therefore they ought to be thankful when buildings for worship were erected, no matter by what denomination.

The history of the Church is not just about buildings.  We are fortunate to have memories of some of the people who have been members at Watton.  These again have been reproduced from the Centenary booklet.  Many fine accolades have been made to the memory of Mrs Ella Bowcock for the very special contribution she made to the chapel.  She was, and is, much respected.    Mary Tongue adds her personal tribute, which has been echoed by many:

When I first came to Watton Chapel with my husband Michael in 1967. there were a few faithful members and it was an enormous contrast to the lively church of 100 at Hoddesdon.

However, when our first child arrived, we felt we should worship here in the village and Michael soon found a place as Organist.  Together with Ralph, Audrey White and others, we helped to start a Sunday School, the Chapel began to grow in numbers. 

It was the witness of Audrey’s mother Ella Bowcock who inspired me to do more.    She was a lovely Christian lady, wise and caring; she showed us by example how to show God’s love in practical ways.  I am so grateful for her life and example.   Others too have come and gone since then, dear friends, with whom we have shared very deep truths.  Tribute was also paid to Mr John (Jack) Merrills, a former Steward who did much for the chapel over and above the call of duty.  Chapel Furnishings represent noteworthy stories; one such is the brass plaque in memory of Gertrude Gubbin, the only daughter of one of our founders, Treasurer/Chapel Steward Mr F. Gubbin.  Gertrude was a nurse attending soldiers at Woodhall Park in the First World War.  She caught pneumonia and died tragically at the age of 26.

The communion table-cloth and blue covers for the prayer stools, the collection bags and various cushions were made by Mrs Nellie Griggs and her sister Miss Betty Parker and were dedicated by the Rev David Caink in memory of their sister Emily.

Gill Day’s husband Gerry, at the request of Mrs Bowcock made the cross on the wall. The lecturn and Bible placed there by Mrs Bowcock’s family and friends in her memory.

Richard Bone made two solid oak tables from the legs of an old table belonging to Irene Milton.  If you look closely at these you will see they are inscribed with the names Mary and Michael (Tongue); a fitting dedication for the work they do behind the scenes for many people both in the chapel and in the village.

Mrs Audrey White recalls

I have been attending the Methodist Chapel now for 43 years and remember the first person to look after the church was Mr. Peck.  He and I used to light the old tortoise stoves - one in the schoolroom, one in the vestry and two in the church.    These stoves burnt a lot of coke and used to smoke terribly when lit.

In my time we have had John and Bessie Shute teaching Sunday School, along with Gordon and Jessie Hind, Mrs Hills, Janet Brighten, Jim and Jean Scrimshire, Janet Evans, Gill Day, Rob and Jane Weston, Mary Tongue, Alison Walker, Vicky Green, Ralph White and myself.  Our Ministers over these same years have been: Rev. Aldridge, Frank Spencer, Arthur Dent, Owen Thomas, Stanley Luke, Charles Gill, David Caink and Brian Gameson. (NB we can now add the names of David Faulkner, John Beebe and John Butt.

Mrs Wilson used to play the organ for us, also Mrs Hawkins (formerly Margaret Sheppard).  Our Treasurers have been: Mr Peck, Mrs Bolter, Robin Sheppard, Ralph White and Michael Tongue.

We had a Junior Guild, run for many years by my husband Ralph and I am proud to say that the Chapel was registered for marriages in 1957 - ours being the very first. 

As I have been researching this history, it has become very clear just how much Ralph and Audrey White have done for the chapel they so dearly love and it would not be right to leave this out of the publication.  In particular and during the sixties when the Chapel was faced with a bill of £300 for renovating the Methodist Church, Ralph and the members decided to do the work themselves, in their spare time, helped by the Superintendent Minister and members, who were all determined not to see the Church they loved simply fall apart.  The work included: replacing rotten timber, rebuilding, redecorating, plastering, scrubbing and cleaning and the Church building was closed for about five weeks, with services being held in the School Room during this time Mrs R. Day recollects when all the windows in the chapel were stained glass.    Sadly these were smashed during the Second World War and the chapel boasts only one remaining stained glass window - over the entrance. A stray bomb dropped at the rear of the chapel knocking out the windows and actually lifting the roof.  This is held firm today by ties.

Music for hymns was played on an old harmonium and during summer months there was an outing to the seaside, or a “big house”, where tea was put on.  Mrs Griggs recollects how the children were all transported from Watton to Ware railway station in a Gubbin’s farm trailer, sitting in their “Sunday best clothes”, on chairs made from bales of straw.  Betty Parker remembers how the children were given stars for attendance and their books stamped by Mr Peck in the old schoolroom.  Good attendance was marked officially by the presentation of an illustrated bible or Methodist School Hymnal.

The kitchen in the schoolroom catered for many social events and some of the original 1891 crockery is still in use today.

The early records first mention a Flower Show in September 1904, when a Bazaar was held and an evening concert.  As it was considered illegal to charge entrance, the organisers charged 3d. each for a programme of events and a profit was made.

Other Flower Festivals have been held over the years; in particular Mrs Vera Copley recalls with pride, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Celebrations in June 1977.  Mrs Bowcock first had the idea of holding the a coffee morning, where donations reached the sum of £100.  The floral arrangements were expertly displayed by Gill Cubitt, Muriel Weston, Peggy Ayres, Moira Green, Maureen Evens, Alison Carter and Vera.  The Silver Jubilee celebrations took place from 4-7 June 1977, with a United Service at the Parish Church on the Sunday followed by a Cricket Match between Watton and Braughing.  The chapel was open in the afternoon for the village to come and see the beautiful flowers.  A Community Picnic was held in the Sports Field and the gardens at Woodhall Park were open for all to see.

The Flower Festival tradition continued in our Centenary Year, when the Watton Flower Club decorated our Chapel and we are so proud of this long and happy association, as gifts and talents are used to reflect God’s glory here.

The Chapel marked this special year with some lively activities organised to raise funds but more importantly. to bring others in contact with Christian fellowship.

The first Centenary event was a most successful Barn Dance in the Summer of 1990, held at Ralph White’s farm and this was followed by a Quiz in the early Autumn, with the Aston Hand bell Ringers joining us for a early Christmas celebrations.

A Spring Concert was held at the Village JMI School where the Stevenage Male Voice Choir entertained over 90 people.

The entrepreneurial spirit took over and we sold 200 commemorative mugs, collected aluminium cans and sold jam and such like.  Nothing happens without good team work and the spirit of the Centenary moulded people to work together and to use their individual talents. just as it did from its inception.

Spring bulbs were donated and planted out by volunteers.  Watton Flower Club agreed to decorate the Chapel for the May celebrations and our worship and many local people and organisations attended these.  The Chapel was re-decorated, again by a volunteer and several of our ladies made the Centenary Banner.

We had hoped to find the first hermetically sealed bottle, placed on the stone at the first ceremony, but alas, this was not to be, however we placed another and Rev. Brian Gameson led a service of commemoration outside the Chapel with Ralph White and John Merrills working together on this.

Those who visit our Chapel say that they feel love here and can always be assured of a warm welcome. In 1992, we started up a fortnightly Lunch/Friendship Club for village friends who mostly live on their own.  This has enabled us to keep in touch with people and to update the hall facilities so that we can offer a warm and welcoming meal, in a safe and friendly environment.

Following the success of the Centenary Arts & Craft Festival and the making of the Centenary Banner, we asked Friends in the village if they would like a Club where they could meet to share their individual talents.  This evolved, rather like the Lunch Club, and is not just for Church Friends, but open to people who are like minded. The atmosphere is informal and both Clubs are well supported, being grounded in the Christian tradition of sharing and caring. A small group of local Artists meet in the Chapel on Monday afternoons to share their talents and offer one another encouragement and advice. There is a weekly house fellowship, where we meet to share time and to pray for our village and the people who live here.

We have a good relationship with other Christians in the village through the auspices of Churches Serving Watton and work together to achieve results for God’s glory; including raising money to ensure that our young school leavers are each presented with a Bible when they move on to Secondary school, and also to help support Dawn & Paul Weston, village friends who are houseparents at Murree Christian School in Pakistan.  We have celebrated since 1991 with various Quiz Nights, Harvest Suppers/Easter Breakfasts, Church Fetes and Bazaars, Scout & Guide Services/Family Services, NCH fund-raising events/Concerts, following firmly in the footsteps of John Wesley and his advice, that we not only help those who need it, but go our to those who need ii the most.  We have a 20 year association with Libury Hall, a local residential home for adults at Dome End and feel sure that this will continue for many years to come. We have twinned with Notting Hill Methodist Church in 1999; a city Church and a Country Chapel and have each had mutual blessings from this Fellowship. This Millennium Year, we visited Netting Hill for the first time and were received there by our new Friends with such warmth, encouraging fellowship to grow between us. We have started up a “working age” women’s group called CAMEO, which meets monthly and encourages us to look out for one another, to grow in fellowship, and to have fun!  We have experienced a wonderful year 2000. We were determined to do what we could to ensure that people in the ·· village could see the true meaning for the celebrations and not just let the opportunity pass us by.  This involved excellent team work and much help from Friends round the village and for that we are truly thankful. Churches Serving Watton worked in unison to ensure that each home in the village received a candle with a Prayer card resolution and these were well received. Our Lunch Club Friends helped to assemble the candle packages, felt useful and involved in this outreach. We had a joint Service on 31 December at the Perish Church and this was a wonderful start to the new year, with participation of young and old, and the lighting of candles to represent God’s own light and love for us.

At Easter, we held a Flower/Arts & Craft/Festival and incorporated an Art Competition for our young people, with the main theme of: I AM THE WAY.  The results of this were wonderful - every young person who entered, received a gift and the Judges were impressed by the overall standard. We continue to thank Watton Flower Club for their continuing association with us, for the marvellous and creative floral displays they produced. This three day event was enjoyed by many and this was a joy for us to share. We held an Easter Village Songs of Praise Service; this involved young people and other Friends, who represented those who had exhibited . The Church was full to the brim, with Notting Hill Friends and other fellow Christians joining and participating in the Service.  Our Millennium Harvest Appeal raised 2cwt. of tins to go to Eastern Europe, with collected perishables and flowers going to Libury Hall. Other floral arrangements were given to village folk who needed some extra cheer. We raised money for tree planting in areas of deforestation, via the Methodist Relief Development Fund and to help transport the tinned goods to Europe.

So, and reflecting upon the last ten years, it is clear that with God’s help and guidance, we can certainly make a difference in the lives of others both here in our community and around the world, with the help of prayer and the Holy Spirit as He guides us. We are given to believe that “numbers do not matter”, that instead of saying what we cannot do for God, we are encouraged to get on with the tasks that we can do.  We have been privileged to see little miracles and people growing in faith as they have each set about their own tasks, using their special gifts and talents here for God, with joyful hearts.

For Jesus, is THE WAY, He is our strength and our salvation and as we go forward, He will be at our side, no matter where we find ourselves and in whatever circumstances. We praise the Lord indeed as we celebrate His Millennium.