People from the Methodist Circuit across the Island gathered together on Sunday evening at Salisbury Street Methodist Chapel to celebrate its 124th Anniversary. Sadly, it was also the last service to be held there and fittingly the hymns had been chosen by the last three church members, Joyce Taylor, Ray Parsons and Joe Marshall.
Absolutely packed out for the occasion the service must have mirrored those celebrations in 1884 when the people of the neighbourhood celebrated their first service. A point picked up by Rev Chris Belfield in his fitting address that related to the strong tradition of this community church.
The older traditions were continued during the service when Rev Chris Belfield requested that choruses be sung twice after the last verse! The service was led by Rev Dee Dee Haines and Rev Godfrey Kenyon read a lesson. Hannah Corrin sang two solos and the organist and pianist for the occasion was Margaret Newton.
The very last hymn to be sung was chosen by Joyce Taylor who had been the organist and pianist for 82 years. She chose ‘The day though gavest, Lord, is ended’ by ex King William’s College pupil and hymnologist John Ellerton (1826-1893).
Many people stayed after the service to view a display of photographs covering the life of the chapel, including many badminton events, and to reminisce with others. Our picture shows Joe Marshall, Joyce Taylor and Ray Parsons, the last three members of Salisbury Street Methodist Church.
