200th Anniversary
200 years, a celebration,
200 years, of our congregation,
Stratton Primitive Methodists, our church’s creation,
From that time, we have worshipped God, in adoration,
From humble beginnings, to where we are now,
A poem of reflection, to look back at how,
In faith we grew;
And continue to,
From Georgian Era, to New Carolean Era; reign,
A bit of our church history, please let me explain,
Mr Habgood’s shop, Carpenters and Wheelwrights,
Home to Stratton Primitive Methodists, first site,
We soon outgrew this space,
Then Swindon Road was the place,
Where our first chapel was located,
Built in a month, 1830 it was dated,
Mr W Pinegar, laying the foundation stone,
God always with us, never alone,
We continued to grow,
Seeds of love to sow,
So we moved again, to our current location,
Former blacksmiths site, historic foundation,
Stratton chapel was there at the birth,
Of the new circuit, called Brinkworth,
Primitive Methodist Choir,
1903, stove pipe fire,
The Stratton Brass Band,
Giving the community, a helping hand,
Band of Hope, temperance movement, abstain;
Refrain, alcohol misuse can only cause pain,
Local bands played at the Sunday School treat,
A time of fellowship, a time to meet,
From early Lantern lectures, to modern PowerPoint projection,
From old offering plate, to bank transfer, as collection,
Magic Lantern slides, displayed on a screen,
Services and celebrations, how many have there been?
Young men's Bible class and women's meeting,
Changing the pews for comfortable seating,
Coffee Morning, Camp Weekend and fundraising days,
These are all, some of the many ways,
That we gather together,
Hoping for good weather,
Church tennis courts;
Enjoying sports,
Old folks teas,
An orchard of trees,
Recitals, choirs, and in 1927, operetta “Zurika, the gipsy maid”,
For the 1995 restoration of the organ, a concert was played,
Egg and flower service, charitable giving,
Our church is growing, our church is living,
Pipe Organ Fund launched in 1930, and then we waited,
Until 1938, when, to the glory of God, it was dedicated,
Worship, praise, service, fellowship, neighbourhood kindness,
Young Denis Hunt, playing the organ, despite his blindness,
Local soldiers leading the services, at the War Time Guild,
Harvest thanksgiving, when the church was filled,
Feeding children at the war-time communal kitchen,
Ladies sewing circle, calmly stitching,
If you’d come to our church before 1959, you would have seen,
Before the Manse was built, we had our own bowling green,
Baptisms, babies, bringing new life,
Marriages, a blessing to each husband and wife,
Deaths, loved ones gone but not forgotten,
With the heavenly father and his son begotten,
Promises made, affirmation,
People of God, our congregation,
Confirmations and new members, our church family,
Always on hand, with a good Methodist cup of tea;
Scripture Union exams, learning a memory verse,
Packing Christmas shoeboxes, for Samaritan’s Purse,
Sealed orders, at Junior Christian Endeavour,
For Christ and the church, serving together,
Jesus loves the Stratton girls, with their bobs and with their curls,
And he loves the Stratton boys, even though they make a noise,
Every child, singing praises, and doing their part,
Our church, spreading God’s word, with love at its heart,
Bring and share lunch, beetle drive,
Our church is living, our church is alive,
Sunday School Prize Giving, Bibles and promotion,
Stories and prayers, and daily devotion,
Sunday School outings, when all the children got a free seat,
Drinks for a picnic; with a packed lunch to eat;
Who can forget the year, when some monkeys opened the boot?
And made off with our sandwiches, as their Safari Park loot!
Recalling this childhood, cheeky display,
Still brings a smile, to my face today!
Car rally, slowly driving around,
Signs to be looked for, clues to be found,
1983, Centenary church float, in the Stratton Carnival parade,
Caring for our community, showing how our church is made,
Congregation, members, who all played a part,
In sharing God's love, giving our church its heart,
The Phantom Water Squirter, at Holiday Club,
Singing carols (On Ilkla Mooar baht 'at) in The Crown, local pub,
Fun, fellowship, worship, praying,
Monty mouse and prize tokens, children playing,
Puppet theatre; Our church, in the middle of our street,
Social events, clubs, a place to meet,
Rev Ralph Ward at Breakfast club,
Place of worship, community hub,
Boys and Girls Brigade,
24 hours, when we prayed,
Garden Party, held at the Manse, on the grass,
Shell Group, Church Anniversary, and Bible Class,
Doughnuts at Youth Club and playing card games,
TNC’s, thought of the week; with Godly aims,
In 1998, we rebuilt the Church Hall,
Still going strong, answering God’s call;
Circuit Cricket Tournament, matches, all playing together,
Spectators getting frozen, and damp; in appalling weather!
A Bible passage is joyfully read,
At Community Kitchen, hungry mouths were fed,
Raising funds for toilet twinning,
Tearfund Big Quiz, which team will be winning?
Christmas Bazaar and Craft Fayre,
Eating yummy bacon rolls there,
Working as a team, getting things done,
Sharing fellowship, having fun,
Supporting Sachibondu mission, charitable giving,
Setting an example, of how to be living;
Fundraising to buy a cow,
Providing milk for the children now;
Lockdown; introduced us all to a thing, called Zoom,
Waiting to join the service, in a digital waiting room!
Virtual vestry, saying a prayer,
Helping others, pastoral care,
Cheese scones and playing games, favourites at Connections,
Chatting together, making memories, with happy reflections,
Art Club, drawing, colouring, painting,
Enjoying sharing, enjoying creating,
School assembly, with interactive story,
Songs of praises, give God the glory,
Inspirational Sunday School teachers,
Ministers, Deacons and Local Preachers,
Worship Leaders,
Bible readers,
All encouraging us to see,
We are all part, of God’s family,
The Worship Group, leading hymns and songs,
Everyone is welcome, everyone belongs,
Our church doors are open wide,
Friendly greetings, welcoming you inside,
200 years, a weekend of celebration,
200 years, of our Stratton congregation,
Memories, both old and new,
And all the inspirational people, who,
Brought us to where, we are today,
They were a blessing, showing the way,
Founding members, all those who went before,
Building our church, with love at its core,
O Lord, help us to be faithful, strong and true,
Give us kind hands, in all that we do,
Give us kind words; give us kind deeds,
Help us to sow, Godly seeds;
O Lord, abide in us; so all those we meet, will surely know,
Your community: we are building together, for a future to show,
That through God; Stratton Methodists, will continue to grow,
200 years back, 200 years gone,
200 years forward, 200 years we go on.