Bicentenary at Borrowash

On Sunday 12 July the people of Borrowash Methodist Church, part of the Derby Circuit, held a celebratory Holy Communion service to mark a bicentenary of Methodism in the village.

Methodism was the first Christian presence in the village of Borrowash and can be traced back further than two-hundred years. The bicentenary date is taken from one of the chapels on Chapel Row in Borrowash with a stone marker of 1826 as its opening date. This is opposite the current Methodist church. It was built in 1826 as a Sunday School for 400 children, a step of faith for a village whose population at that time was only 350 people. It soon filled up with children and teachers. It was also used as a day school, a food bank and provided basic medical care for the villagers.

The celebration service, led by the Revd Rob Hawkins, was a joyful occasion. Janet Horobin, a long-standing member of the church, led some reminiscences about the current Methodist church. She reminded the congregation that in Hebrews 13:8 we are told that we have Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The Revd Hawkins used Ephesians 3:4–19 as a text for the occasion, focusing on v.16 , "... that he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being", to encourage the congregation in their journey. He reminded them that only a few years ago the members were considering whether it was time to leave the building, but a faithful few had thought that it was not the time to leave and that God has been faithful to their belief and that there are new shoots growing within the congregation.

As this was a joyful, Methodist occasion there was a celebratory cake. The local school had held a competition for a design to go on the cake. The winning design was by Cara Chippendale who attended the service with her mum and cut the first piece of cake.

Former Lay Pastor, Judith Neal, commented, "This was just one moment in the long history of Methodism in Borrowash. The current worshiping congregation is a mixture of people who are both young and more mature who continue to engage with the village to bring the light of Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever, to Borrowash as those who went before them did."