IT was 128 years ago on April 28, 1892, that Crediton Methodist Church was opened.

Little did the “founding fathers’’ think that the Church doors would be locked on the orders of the British Government in 2020 due to a pandemic. They probably had never heard of the word pandemic!

Even more incredulous they would have been to learn that as well as 70-plus people watching live on the web either through their computer, tablet, smart phones, and listening via their land line, there have been more than 300 clicks each week to view the service at a later date.

There was no such thing as the web, a computer, tablet or smart phone. Let’s face it, Alexander Graham Bell only patented the telephone in 1876 – just some 16 years before the opening. Very few people in Crediton would have owned a telephone.

The church underwent a major refurbishment last year and on Sunday, September 15, 2019, when there was a Circuit Service held in the newly refurbished premises, Rev Steve Santry issued a challenge saying the church was not “bricks and mortar’’ but people.

At the service on April 26, the bidding words were “Present yourselves as living stones to be built into a spiritual house’’.

The closure of the premises proved that Crediton Methodist Church is much more than bricks and mortar in the way the leaders and members have worked hard to ensure everyone is looked after and cared for.

There are 95 members of the church and many adherents who attend the church and its activities. Most members and adherents are telephoned each week to check they are well and shopping is arranged for them if necessary. Crediton Methodist Church has been Working out God’s Love in Crediton for 128 years and is continuing to do so.

Rev Ann Varker had issued a challenge to the young people the previous week to make bread/cake ready for a Methodist Love Feast on Sunday, April 26, when the congregation was asked to join in sharing food and drink.

A Love Feast is a way of expressing sharing, belonging and the fellowship we have together as followers of Jesus and was introduced by John Wesley.

We shared in a slice of Love Feast cake, the recipe for which was adapted from a traditional recipe used at the time of John Wesley. A key part of the Love Feast is to share testimony how your story is part of God’s story.

As we shared cake, we heard testimony from four members of the congregation, one of which was very moving from a NHS worker. We concluded the Love Feast by singing a hymn especially written by Charles Wesley.

If you would like to listen live to Sunday morning services at 10.30am please contact the church AV team using the email: [email protected] or telephone 01363 777308. Individual help will be given to work out how you can best access the worship.

Bronwyn Nott