At the Park-road Wesleyan Church there was a very large attendance at the watch-night service, which commenced at 11 p.m., and the proceedings were of a most impressive character.The President of Conference had, in view of the passing away of the century, recommended that in all the Wesleyan watch-night services the same hymns should be sung to the same tunes and at the same time all over England, and this suggestion was acted upon at Rushden. The Rev. J.Bentley gave an earnest address on the words, “Watch ye,” and the Rev. C.F.Groom also spoke most appropriately. He mentioned that at the beginning of the 19th century there were 92,948 members in the Wesleyan Connexion, while at the close of the century there were 481,061; at the beginning of the century the ministers numbered 328, whilst now there were 2,202; the chapels in the Connexion, which had at the beginning of the century numbered 500, now reached the total of 8,461. At the present time there were associated with the English Wesleyan Conference, besides the half-million members, no fewer than two million of adherents and 967,046 scholars in the Sunday schools, with 131,052 Sunday school teachers. Wesleyan local preachers at the close of the century numbered 19,956, so it would be seen that during the last hundred years the growth of Methodism had been astonishing. Shortly before midnight the company joined in singing the hymn, “Rock of Ages” to the tune “Redhead,” the last verse being sung very softly, the congregation all kneeling, and the instrumental accompaniment by Mr.C.Wooding was most effective.  The last few minutes of the expiring year were spent in silent prayer, and, the new century being ushered in, the worshippers joined heartily in singing that time-honoured hymn,

The Rev.C.F.Groom wished all present “a happy new year,” and a memorable service then terminated.

Rushden Argus, Friday, January 2, 1903, transcribed by Greville Watson

Watch-night Services

Special services were held at four of the Nonconformist places of worship on New Year ’s Eve, beginning on each occasion at eleven o’clock and ending shortly after midnight.

At the Park-road Wesleyan Chapel, the service was held in the schoolroom, which was about half-full.  The Rev.R.B.Woodward preached from the words: “See them that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Feph.v., 15-16).  The speaker dealt with the value of time, as suggested by the scanty way in which it came, the possibility of storing it, its unceaseless and stealthy march and its vital relation to the Hereafter.  Miss Causebrook presided at the organ.