Barnes in Common

the magazine of Churches Together in Barnes
September/October 2007

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Celebration of Barnes Service

The Celebration of Barnes Service on 24th June was due to be held outside at Lowther School in Stillingfleet Road, but due to poor weather in the previous week it was decided it would be best to hold it indoors at the Castlenau Centre also on Stillingfleet Road. This was a blessing in disguise as it meant people coming to the service who had not been inside the centre before or known much about it could see what an active centre and fantastic resource it is for the local community.

As people from congregations around Barnes arrived at the Castlenau Centre the sound of the Barnes Concert Band filled the hall and by the time the service was due to start nearly every seat in the hall was occupied by worshippers of all ages. Ministers from churches around Barnes and their members led a service which, as well as celebrating the ecumenical partnership in Barnes, commemorated 200 years since the Abolition of Slavery. However, passages and meditations in the service reminded the congregation that slavery still continues today in many different forms and needs to be condemned and challenged.

The breaking of the chains of all forms of slavery was symbolised in the service in an active prayer. The congregation was asked to think about something they wanted the world or themselves to be freed from and write this on a strip of paper. The strips were then collected in and children from the congregation made them into a paper chain. Later in the service the congregation formed a circle holding the chain and broke it while shouting 'Set all free!'

Throughout the service the hymns were accompanied by the Barnes Concert Band who brought new life and colour to them with their harmonies and interpretation. Although there was a serious message to the service – to respond to the call to challenge all forms of slavery – the afternoon was very enjoyable. It was good to see a wide range of denominations and age groups gathering together to worship, and share fellowship at the tea after the service where there was a veritable feast of sweet treats and a steady stream of tea to be consumed!

Charlotte Davies

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