Our Centenary celebrations this year comes to a head on the weekend of 25th/26th October.
A hundred years ago on 25th October 1914 our current building was officially opened. It had replaced an earlier St Peter’s Street Chapel built in 1863, as witness the foundation stone seen in our Aldersgate room. There were previous cottage chapels before that back to 1821.
Saturday 25th October – Reunion and pageant
From 1500 the church will be open to receive folk who were members here long ago, many from the active Youth Club days in 1950s. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available and the Archive Exhibition on display in the Hall.
At 1700 there will be a buffet tea, with a group photo at 1800.
At 1900 we launch into our Pageant of Predecessors in the Church. This takes the form of some twenty items, mainly quick vignettes of men and women significant in the earlier life of our church. There will be overhead illustrations and a few other surprise features. About half way through there will be a short in-situ interval and the evening will end with an Epilogue.
Sunday 26th October
The Preacher at our Sunday morning service will be Rev Ken Howcroft, this year’s President of Conference, and a former colleague of our minister Alison when both served recently as Mission Partners in Italy. Alison and Chris White our Superintendent minister will shape the service. It is a United Service for Church@Castle so expect a full house. This will be followed by lunch in the hall.
At 1500 Castle Street hosts a Circuit Event. There will be some opening worship led by Rev Chris White and Rev Alison Walker, and a brief presentation of new, developing work in the Cottenham and Chesterton areas, identified by the Circuit as our mission priorities.
Then Rev Ken Howcroft will lead our continuing reflections, opening into a discussion including a panel of local people (at present confirmed are: Derek Nicholls, Local Preacher, Fiona Smith president of MethSoc and Clifford Meharry chaplain of The Leys School). We will conclude with a hymn and a chance to meet the President over refreshments.