Final service at Winkfield Row – report
Closure of Winkfield Row
Winkfield Row saw its last service on Sunday 29th April 2018 at 3 pm. The church was full of those in the circuit who wanted to be there to support the church as it sadly closed. Winkfield Row had been open for its worshippers to praise and serve the Lord for 164 years having been founded in 1854.
The Primitive Methodist magazine for December 1854 contains an account by DM of the opening of Winkfield Primitive Methodist chapel. Hunt of High Wycombe laid the foundation stone on May 30th 1854 with a sermon preached by Mr Mules, and the chapel was opened for worship on September 17th 1854. Sermons were preached by E Bishop and N Broadway; there was “a large and excellent tea.” It is recorded that the society had previously met in a farmhouse owned by Mrs R Osman.
Throughout these years there were faithful worshippers and it saw several generations of families as members, one being a lady who spoke at the service. Her Grandfather had attended the church, then her father, and she followed on herself as a little girl. She was very sad to see the church close it had been an integral part of her family’s church life since it had opened. However unfortunately with the declining numbers of people attending over the years, it was simply not viable to remain open for worship.
Rev Bryan Coates who had been Minister of the church some time ago, returned and took the service. He was wonderfully positive in his talk, thanking those who worshipped God in that place, all those who had served out of love for the Lord and for each other. He saw this as a new opportunity for those who remained to find other places to take their God given gifts and talents to use elsewhere. He spoke of God’s pruning, pruning for more fruition, lifting up for service.
Just as the opening and dedication of the church had been accompanied by “a large and excellent tea”, so the close of the church finished on the same note. A wonderful feast was brought out with an assortment of sandwiches, vol au vents, sausage rolls, quiche and various other savouries, all gloriously washed down with copious amounts of tea and coffee, then the cakes! Winkfield Row put on a wonderful celebration even amongst their sadness. Let us pray for the folk that attended that church, that they are guided to and welcomed into other churches where, as Rev Bryan Coates encouraged, they can use their talents to continue to bless and serve the Lord.
Keg