The Methodist Church is situated in the heart of the High Street and is one of 17 churches that make up an ecumenical group called the Herts and Essex\Border Ecumenical Area (HAEBEA) (www.haebea.org.uk). It also belongs to Churches Serving Watton, has a Parish Partnership with Focolare Centre for Unity in Welwyn Garden City and is twinned with the Notting Hill Methodist Church in London. The Chapel was built on a plot of land that was purchased for £130 in 1890 and the first service took place on 14 October 1891. Currently, Members and friends are busy raising money to make improvements to the premises.
The majority of the Members and worshippers live in Watton-at-Stone and as Christians all play their part in village life; they lead walks (with the local walking-group), visit the local pubs, have a School Governor, are involved with Libury Hall (an adult residential-home) and with other village-clubs and societies. This has led them to be responsive to the spiritual needs of those with no experience of Church and those who have drifted away. A community Meditation Garden, which offers a quiet space or sanctuary, was created as part of the Church Centenary celebrations and local people donated plants in memory of their loved ones. Pews were removed from the Chapel to make it a more flexible space which is now used for a monthly Oasis coffee-mornings, that are well supported.
The Methodist Chapel is not a church complex that is used for just 1 hour a week. It is at the very heart of the community and as such is used for a Friendship/Lunch Club, the Cameo group for women, a card-making group, a craft club, an art class, a knit-and-natter group, a Sunday Club (for up to 9 children) and various other regular and one-off activities such as socials, teas and children's parties. Some of these activities are church-related whereas others are for the community, although at times it is difficult to distinguish between the two. Underpinning everything is worship and prayer, including monthly prayer-groups for healing, a house-group and a monthly-slot, called Presence, in the Parish News.
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Sunday services are held at 1045 each week alongside the Sunday Club for children aged 3 and above. We are a welcoming church and invite you to get in touch. If you want to know more, please contact the Rev. Mary Dow (Minister) on 01920 487746 or John Ellis (Senior Steward) on 01920 830623. |
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