Barnes in Common

the magazine of Churches Together in Barnes
July/August 2006

Home
Current issue
Previous issues
Noticeboard
Discussion board
About CTiB

A Methodist visits Holy Trinity

by Charlotte Davies

On a lovely sunny Pentecost Sunday in June I visited Holy Trinity Church in Castlenau. The service began at 10.00 and was led by Reverend Jean Boulton-Reynolds. I arrived at the church at five to ten and on entering was given a hymn book, service and notice sheet. People were dotted around the church and it was about a quarter full. I chose to sit at the back. The church was quiet and the organ was providing some meditative music to aid preparation for worship. Before the service I had time to read the very comprehensive notice sheet which detailed the readings and hymns for the service, invited you to coffee, gave weekly notices and a look ahead section for June which advertised church events in the local area, a who's who section and contact details of key role holders, as well as post communion prayers and dedication prayers. As a regular church attendee, I think I often forget that communion can be quite daunting for visitors, but being in a church of a different denomination I was reminded of this. I was therefore pleased to see an additional section in the notices called: 'Helpful Information' which detailed how to make your way up for communion and how to leave afterwards, this was then reinforced in the service sheet and by the vicar at communion time. Although I was not welcomed in person, I felt the notice sheet did an excellent job of telling me all I needed to know.

The Pentecost Service was a family one, and there were a few young families in attendance. It was great to see the children were very much included in the service. They were provided with a table at the front of the church to one side where a Sunday School teacher was delivering some quiet activities. The children were free to move backward and forward between the table and their parents. The vicar explained they would make an important contribution to the service during the sermon showing us what they had been working on.

I was able to follow the service both listening and in the service sheet as it was entirely transcribed. The hymns were familiar, mainly traditional but with the inclusion of Shine Jesus Shine to close the service. As a keen musician, I was pleased that as well as the hymns some of the other parts of the service were sung. The sermon was accessible for all ages, easy to follow and interesting, Reverend Boulton-Reynolds used everyday examples to illustrate her points making it relevant to day to day life.

I really enjoyed the service and I was encouraged to stay for birthday cake after the service to celebrate the birth of the church. Once I had collected my tea and cake I did stand on my own for a little while, however I was approached by two members of the congregation consecutively and they engaged me in conversation and made me feel welcome. On leaving the church I felt I had had a positive experience as a visitor to Holy Trinity.

Back to the top