Author: Geoffrey G

Two charities were supported at the  Harvest Service on Sunday 3rd October.

A pew collection in aid of the Methodist supported charity, All We Can and for tinned and dried food for the local food bank at the Lighthouse Project based in Middleton.

The Church and School Rooms were open for five half days during this year’s HODs, attracting both local and visitors from the wider region. The walk around the Conservation Area and the Edgar Wood properties on Sunday 12th September was over subscribed. A pre booked group of 22 were divided into two groups and starting in opposite directions. The walk will be repeated in Spring 2022, so send an email if you wish to be informed of details nearer to the time (edgarwoodsociety@gmail.com).

Visit Long Street Methodist Church and the adjacent Edgar Wood Rooms to see the finest Arts & Crafts building in Greater Manchester. Guides will be on hand to answer any questions.

Friday 10 September 1 – 4pm        Sunday 12 September 1 – 4pm  

Sunday 12 September 2pm  Leaving from the Church at 2pm a guided walk around the Conservation Area to view 9 listed buildings in the ‘Golden Cluster’. For full details: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/a-guided-walk-around-middleton-conservation-area
Wednesday 15 September 1 – 4pm

Friday 17 September 1 – 4pm        Saturday 18 September 1 – 4pm

The gates were opened and It was good to be back for a service at Long Street although with a difference, for the first service in the building since 15th March, 2020.

To make easier to comply with covid protocols, the service was held in the hall of the Edgar Wood Rooms. The atmosphere was different, but a success all the same and will be repeated again next week. If you would like to book a seat phone 0161 6530512.

The church gates were decorated yesterday for Pentecost and the first service since lockdown at Long Street planned for today, unfortunately had to be postponed, so it was back to Zoom.

We now look forward to the first service on the 13th June. Until then the Sunday morning and evening services will continue on Zoom. Details can be found on the Manchester Circuits web site. https://manchestermethodists.org.uk

The fourth and final talk by Dr. Alec Hamilton

The Title is: “Is it or isn’t it? A Field Guide to Arts & Crafts Churches.”

Alec says “It’s my attempt to answer the big question that constantly crops up: “What are the essential characteristics of an Arts & Crafts church?” Also expressed as, “How do I know it’s an Arts & Crafts church when I finally get into it?” (Another popular one is “There is a church near me. It has a Burne-Jones window. Why, oh why, is it not in your book?” And I have a soft spot for “Who was this William Morris bloke anyway

As this fourth talk is for VicSoc, I have to warn you it costs £5 to view. I know. A disgrace. But cheaper than Netflix and Curzon Home Cinema. And shorter. And VicSoc needs the money – rest assured, I do not get a bean. Meanwhile VicSoc has to carry on its work as statutory consultative body on planning matters, and keeping a sharp eye out for buildings under threat, despite the current unpleasantness. Whereas I am a diversion.

You can book here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/141162186901  (And, yes, it was awfully jolly to be asked back. And, yes, this is an all-new talk – 22 churches I have never lectured on before.)

For those of you who find my stern academic rigour intimidating – and quite rightly so: it is – there will be a Quiz at the end. Fun – even for intellectuals.

Leave them wanting more, I say…”

If you missed Alec Hamilton’s talk yesterday lunchtime, it is available on the Churches Conservation Trust’s YouTube feed. Just enter Churches Conservation Trust into your browser and you will find all the information.

Weekly lectures are free and are live at 1.00pm but you do need to register or sign into Facebook.

Dear Friends

Hey! Here’s an idea. A talk – but it’s “online”! You know, you watch it through your computer. Yes, I know. What a wacky notion. I bet nobody else has thought of it. It’s so modern.

Heigh ho. One can but try.

So anyhow…

Just in case you can’t spend nearly enough time looking at a screen, here’s more.

I am doing a talk (entirely new) on 11 February which may interest you.

It’s for the CCT (Churches Conservation Trust), and titled: ’Dreams, Distractions and Destruction: Britain’s lost Arts & Crafts Churches’.

It is at lunchtime: 1 p.m.

The talk is free and open to all. If you are interested, you can sign up here: https://www.facebook.com/events/147756693521434

In March 2020 daffodils  were in flower in the garden, the same clump have a bulb in bud today, will we have another flower in the same year?

The leaves are falling and filling the gutters and hoppers. If they are not cleared it could result in water ingress and damp. I am pleased to say these leaves were cleared today.

The Rev. Caroline Wickens departs Long Street Methodist Church to continue her 45 mile sponsored ride around the Churches in the Circuit.  Donations are  in aid of the Faith Network for Manchester and donations can be made via the Ride for Faiths Together page on gofundme.com

Go to the Web site manchestermethodist.org.uk  to see the Week by Week worship list.

Worship for Sunday 18th October, by Deacon Pru Cahill

Why not try viewing or listening to the live daily prayers at 10.00am  and streaming throughout the day from Wesley’s Chapel.

Following the long lock down, Theo (martial arts leader) held his first session on Monday last. Although having to have his classes outside to conform to guide lines, it was good to see the premises in use once again. After this Monday’s  outside session, he should be able to move back inside during the last week of the month.