Our Boat, Our Story

Today we celebrate our church anniversary and we thank God for leading us through another year. An anniversary is a opportunity to remember our story – our history. This church actually began in 1886 when the first meetings were held in members homes. On 1^st January 1887 the foundation stone of the first church, which is now our hall, was laid. It opened in April of that year. The society soon grew and just 13 years later the memorial stones of this building were laid on 15^th December 1900. The church was opened on 5^th October 1901.

Those must have been heady and exciting times. Imagine building a brand new church and within a few years needing to build an even bigger one. We can tell how confident and proud those Methodists must have been – for this building was built in the best way possible – in the trendy gothic revival arts and crafts style of the period. It had the widest barrel-vaulted ceiling for its time. The arts and crafts movement was a reaction against the industrialization of the Victorian period and a desire to move away from mass production and back to real craftsmanship and artisan skills. We see that in the window here – which is so beautiful. It would have been hand made and it is a unique design to our church. What a glorious day that must have been when the church opened!

  But in reality 1900 was probably the peak of this churches history if we are to look at success in the way that the world looks at success. This church was built by the United Methodist Free Churches – which was a separate Methodist denomination founded in 1857. They arrived in Streatham just a few years after the Wesleyans who had built their church in 1882 on the High Road and who went on to be build a Mission Hall in Blegborough Road in 1889.

 All this frenetic activity actually belied the fact that nationally the Methodist denominations had reached their peak. They began to think about working more closely together. In 1907 some of the smaller branches, including the United Methodist Free Churches, came together to form the United Methodist Church. After the horrors of the First World War most churches declined as people started to move away from formal religion. In 1932 the United Methodists joined with the Wesleyans and the Primitives to form the Methodist Church of Great Britain.

 So in 1932 there were three Methodist Churches, all of the same denomination in close proximity – a challenge replicated across the country. The problem of which buildings to keep was partly solved in London when war broke out. In Lambeth – Lambeth Mission was destroyed by bombing as was Brixton Hill. Tulse Hill church was badly damaged as was the church on the High Road. This building sustained some damage too. After the war the population of London sharply declined, people moved out to the suburbs and so by the mid 1960’s the Methodists in Streatham faced a challenge. Which church to keep. They chose this one. And began to adapt to changing times. The area declined. New communities moved in. Some work stopped, other work started.

 I think it is important that we tell the story and know the story because it reminds us of a very important thing. In every decade that this church has been here its people have faced challenges. And even at the very beginning when all looked rosy and lovely they chose to put this picture here at the front. Of a boat. And in the boat is Jesus. And Jesus is alone. 

I think they wanted folk as they sat there in church looking at it to be challenged. Jesus needs people to join him in the boat. Will you join him?

 In our reading (Mark 4:35-41) we were reminded that journeys by boat are not always much fun. On the Sea of Galilee which can look so beautiful and tranquil one minute, violent storms can blow up without warning. This storm was so strong that even the seasoned fishermen were frightened. And the storm was only the first of their worries – for Jesus wanted to take them to the other side. The other side was Gentile territory where the godless people lived. Jesus wanted them to go there. And when they got there they were faced with a man who personified all their worst nightmares. We often refer to him as the Gerasene Demoniac. He was naked – an abomination. He was out of his mind – an abomination. He was bleeding – an abomination. He was living amongst the dead – an abomination. He would, according to the purity laws, make them unclean 4 times over!

 But they got in the boat. And so have the Streatham Methodists over the years. And they included some impressive names. Donald Soper grew up in Streatham. The Rev Walter Hall, who founded Methodist Homes, was a minister here. The Rev Hugh Price Hughes who went on to found the West London Mission was a minister in Streatham.

 They got in the boat and let Jesus lead them through war, through the blitz, through unification and closures, through uncertainty and change. 

And now we have come through our own time of challenge. We have lived through a pandemic. For the first time in its history this church closed for months on end for public worship. We have all lost loved ones and friends and our old certainties. We have come back but we are no more very certain about what the future holds.

 But our boat is still here, facing us with its beauty and reassurance. It reminds us that Jesus is still here with us. He has been through the storm with us. He has helped us to reach the other side.

 But the boat is still empty. The challenge is still there. Jesus still needs us and desires our help. He summons us, he is calling you. He still stays “let us go to the other side”.  And although we do not know what the future holds, what the journey will be like or what we will find when we get there. Let us pray for the courage and the wisdom to get in with him. Amen.