Harvest celebration to mark 55 years of Horncastle Methodist Church

Following this year’s lockdown, the chapel reopened for worship on September 13.

The service, led by the Rev Gordon Davis, was well attended and a delightful start to the new way of conducting and attending services.

Church member Marion Manson said: “All Covid protocols were in place and, with the sun shining through the windows, the whole experience was uplifting after a time of isolation and separation.

“While everyone was kept at a safe distance from each other, and all wore masks or shields, the atmosphere was still joyous.”

The current building opened its doors for worship in 1965 - on September 25.

Since then, the building has been an important community asset and has hosted many outreach projects and still plays an important role in the community, with several rooms available for hire.

Many marriages, baptisms, celebrations of life and, sadly funerals, have all taken place there over the years.

In 2015, a weekend of celebrations was held to mark the 50th anniversary, combined with the Harvest Festival to make the event extra special.

That weekend was attended by local people and those who had lived in the 
area and worshipped at the chapel over the years.

Though they are unable to celebrate in the same way this year, the church is open for services on Sunday mornings at 10.30am, with a Harvest Festival this Sunday, September 27.

Marion said: “Current rules are that we wear masks and singing is not allowed.

“However, with the new church organ, we can hear music beautifully played and hymns relayed from other sources.

The first Weslyan Methodist chapel was built in 1786 in The Wong, Cagthorpe. This was replaced by a new chapel only 20 years later, in 1806.

A new chapel was built in Queen Street in 1837, later replaced by a new chapel on the same site in 1870.

This chapel was found to be unsafe and closed in 1962 and was replaced by the one now in use, which opened in 1965.

During the three years the new Queen Street premises were being built, 1962-1965, the congregation worshipped at St Mary’s Anglican Church in the town.