Church looks ahead after reaching milestone

BICENTENARY CELEBRATIONS at Uppermill Methodist ended with a service of Thanksgiving as the church now looks to the future.

Rachel Coates (back right) with some of the children who took part in the service
Rachel Coates (back right) with some of the children who took part in the service

The ‘Harvest of Skills and Talents and Rededication Service’ brought to a close almost a year of events to celebrate the Uppermill Wesleyan Chapel (1813 – 1913) and the Uppermill Methodist Church, which opened in 1913.

For the final event, the church was decorated with fruit and flowers as children took part in the traditional Harvest Thanksgiving service.

The congregation was also encouraged to think about other gifts they could offer to support the church and help its mission and ministry to flourish as it begins its third century.

As the church grows, Rachel Coates joined as a full-time children and family worker last month and a lift is being installed in the Methodist Centre to make the first floor more easily accessible for the whole community.

Rev James Skinner said: “This is an exciting time for Uppermill Methodist Church. We look forward to working with Rachel to expand our work with children, young people and families.

“Two hundred years ago the first church was built on the site and one hundred years ago the present building was opened.

“We hope that when the Methodist church family celebrates 300 years in Uppermill they will still be making an important contribution to the local community.”

A variety of events and special services have been held since February to mark the church’s milestones, including an ‘All Age Worship and Parade Service’, an opera gala and a drama ‘All Aboard the Fishy Tales’.

A history of the church was displayed at an exhibition at Saddleworth Museum and ‘An evening with John Wesley’ as Mark Topping performed as the eighteenth century legendary travelling preacher.