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| Extracted from 'Park Road Methodist Church, Rushden, A Century of Witness, 1905 - 2005' |
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Rev. John D. Searle
1962 - 1968 |
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| Congratulations – a somewhat inadequate word with which to recognize the celebration of a centenary of worship and service! I find it difficult to believe that it is more than forty years since we came to Rushden. Looking back, those six years of ministry, shared with Riseley, Yelden, Souldrop, Swineshead, and Knotting Green, were very special to Joan and me. As an aid to memory, I am scanning my photo albums covering that period. The first picture I have of Park Road was taken using my camera to demonstrate a point at a Parade Service. It's an impressive sight - the Girls' Brigade occupying the first six rows of the centre block left and the Boys' Brigade filling seven rows centre right. Next come two shots of the Sisterhood Meeting, unfortunately there were too many present to get everyone in, but the room is full of smiling faces! Turning the pages we come to several shots of the Youth Fellowship, taken at their annual Whitsun camp. They depict, for instance, a kit inspection outside tents pitched on the bank of the River Nene at Cogenhoe, a midnight hike, canoeing and the year when the camp was at Fotheringhay, a mock re-enactment of the execution in 1587 of Mary, Queen of Scots.
In spite of the challenging theology of the 'Swinging Sixties' – the honest to God and death of God debates – we were blessed with a large number of young people who not only attended Sunday morning Bible Class, but also came to evening service and stayed on for the Youth Fellowship, where a varied programme included recording a short service to take to some of the elderly 'shut-ins', one of whom was noted for handing round a tin of sweets during the prayers. This was an era when the 'experimental approach' to religious education was in vogue. Many churches, including Park Road, changed from afternoon Sunday School to morning Junior Church/Family Worship. Turning a page we come to photos of two major events involving the children and young people – the Sunday School Anniversary and annual Pantomime. Children of all ages took part and, incidentally, acquired confidence to speak, sing, dance and act in public. I see our three daughters are in the chorus; Diana (who was born whilst we lived in Rushden) costumed as a penguin, Corinne as a chocolate drop and Helen as a bird-fairy! And who is this bevy of Victorian beauty? None other than the combined Young Wives and Sisterhood in a performance of 'The Good Old Days', compéred by Leonard Sachs (alias your correspondent, with magnificent curly moustache). Alas there are no photos of the fortnightly Ladies Sewing Meeting at which the minister gave the talk prior to a delicious tea; the sewing however was done at home for another big event, the annual Bazaar. Sadly I seem to have no pictorial record of our Local Preachers or those who provided such splendid spiritual leadership and pastoral care – those vital elements at the core of all the many and varied activities at Park Road. Nor or any of those who gave time and expertise in matters of property and finance. I regret, too, there is none of the choir who enhanced our morning and evening worship, and performed some great cantatas. I can only picture in my mind the faithful members of the Prayer Meeting and Bible Study group, and the young husbands who came to the occasional home meetings of ‘Agnostics Anonymous’. I have no pictures that capture the ‘Circuit spirit’ of those days, nor of the ecumenical co‑operation that prevailed. I wish I had recorded evidence of our monthly, ‘clergy’ breakfasts, when we met in turn for prayer and discussion – Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Wesleyan Reform, Salvation Army, Pentecostal and Methodist; despite our differences in character, churchmanship and theology, there was always a feeling of being ‘one in Christ’. Space does not permit to tell of the many other memories of ‘saints aware and unaware’ of those who still serve Christ here on earth and those who now worship Him in heaven. I am thankful that I was privileged to know some of them, learn from them and serve with them. Joan and all our family join me in wishing you God’s blessing as you go forward into a new century of life and witness at John D. Searle |
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