250 years of Methodism in the West End
 Hinde Street Anniversaries
This year is a very exciting one for Hinde Street. We are celebrating two big anniversaries – 200 years of a chapel on the present site, and 250 years since the small group of Methodists who eventually became Hinde Street Methodist Church started meeting in Mayfair. The first celebration relates to 2010, and the second to early 2011, so we are combining both into a programme of events.
Book – ‘West End Methodism – the Story of Hinde Street’ by Alan Brooks
The Book covers the complete history of Hinde Street, from the beginnings in 1761, through its predecessor chapel in Chandler Street (just south of Oxford Street) up to the present day. It covers all the triumphs and crises of the Methodist Society in this place – for example, the impact of some of the charismatic preachers of the nineteenth century who drew people from all over London, the details of the revolutionary dissent that hit Hinde Street in 1850, the occasions when Hinde Street was threatened with closure, but also the faithful maintenance of the distinctive and beautiful worship tradition and the Class Meeting , and the inspiring story of how Hinde Street has ministered to young people as a particular constituency. Detailed accounts are provided of the Sunday School (which attracted an incredible 750 members soon after it began), the University Methodist Society (Methsoc) of which older church members have fond memories, and the renowned Sunday Night Group.
The 400 page, ilustrated, hardback book is available for £20 including UK postage from 20th November: www.northwaybooks.com
Did you know -
· that Hinde Street once had seven deaconesses?
· that Mr WH Smith once paid the salary of a Hinde Street minister?
· that one of the early leaders of the choir was deaf?
· that the first Hinde Street chapel was described as one of the ugliest in Methodism, and the present one as the most handsome in London?
· that the daughter of one of the Hinde Street ministers married the famous Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones?
· that a benefactor once offered £83,000 in today’s money as a personal donation to Hinde Street?
· That the first time a radio link-up was used as part of a service of worship was at Hinde Street?
Bicentenary appeal
As part of the celebrations to mark 200 years of a Methodist chapel on its current site, Hinde Street Methodist Church is launching an appeal for a substantial improvement to the premises, which will enable the church to meet 21st century expectations in a much better way.
The chapel still retains its original 1887 entrance layout, with a very shallow lobby and large sliding wooden doors that for most of the time present a blank face to the outside world. At the start and end of services, and on other occasions, movement is restricted and a fitting greeting or farewell is difficult. The bicentenary now inspires us to a special effort to make a real improvement.
These exciting proposals will create an enlarged and welcoming entrance space incorporating an all-glass screen with glass doors between it and the worship area, and moveable glass partitions to form a space in the vestibule that can be used as a safe crèche area.
For more details on the plan, and how to make a contribution, please download this PDF leaflet.
Anniversary programme
The following is a summary of our programme.
Services Led by Former Hinde Street Ministers (5th and 12th December 2010)
5th Dec, 10 am and 11am.
Preacher: Rev Phil Hoar (Hinde Street Minister 1988-95)
12th Dec, 11am and 6.30pm.
Preacher: Rev David Cruise (Supt. of WLM 1991-2001)
An Open Afternoon with Tea (11th December)
Have you ever had tea at the Ritz or Claridges? If so, imagine the same thing in the beautiful surroundings of Hinde Street. Visitors taking a break from Christmas shopping would be shown to their tables by polite stewards, and served by waitresses and waiters. Tables would be laid out with cloths and small vases of flowers. On offer would be, say, a Marylebone Cream Tea (variety of teas and posh home-made cakes), and a pianist would be playing continuous afternoon background music. Afterwards, visitors could stroll around the exhibition showing the history of Hinde Street and its current activities, as well as those of the West London Mission.
Services Led by Former Hinde Street Ministers (2nd, 9th and 16th Jan 2011)
2nd Jan, 11am.
Preacher: Rev Ken Howcroft (Hinde Street Minister 1983-88)
9th Jan, 10 am and 11am.
Preacher: Rev Kenneth Wilson (Hinde Street Assistant Minister 1964-66)
16th Jan, 10am, 11am and 6.30pm. Preacher: Rev Peter Howson (Hinde
Street Assistant Minister 1975-77)
Visit from Leipzig Kreuzkirche (28th-30th January 2011)
Leipzig Kreuzkirche is our twinned Methodist Church in Germany.
The Annual Soper Sermon (Sunday 30th January)
Preacher: the Rev Dr Stuart Jordan, Co-Chair of the London District (and Student Chaplain at Hinde Street 1982-7).
Services Led by Former Hinde Street Ministers (6th, 13th and 27th Feb 2011)
6th Feb, 11am.
Preacher: Rev Malcolm Rothwell (Hinde Street Minister 1987-91)
13th Feb, 11am
Preacher: Rev Doreen Hare (Hinde St Minister 1992-93)
27th Feb, 11am & 6.30pm
Preacher: Rev Geoff Cornell (Supt. of the WLM 2001-2007)
Party (Saturday 5th March 2011) 3.30 – 9pm
This will be generally similar to the party on 20th November, but there will be the possibility also that a short play centred on a dramatic phase in the history of the church will be performed.
Service of Thanksgiving for 250 Years of Methodism in this part of the West End
(Sunday 6th March 2011)
11am. Preacher: John Hicks.
Previous events in our celebrations include:
The Hugh Price Hughes Lectures 2010: What Mission? Urban Discipleship
23rd Feb Professor Morna Hooker ‘Be Holy as I am Holy’
2nd March Professor Morna Hooker ‘The Challenge of the City’
9th March Professor Frances Young ‘Being Holy in the Cities of the Roman Empire. Are there suggestive parallels with our present pluralist society?’
16th March Professor Frances Young ‘The Challenge of Establishment –
Did a Christian Empire Help or Hinder?’
23rd March Debate with Professors Morna Hooker and Frances Young –
‘The Church for Today’
Note: all lectures are at 7.30 pm and are free.
A book will be produced based on these lectures and will be available in early November. More details forthcoming.
Radio 4 Morning Service (Pentecost, Sunday 23rd May)
7.30 am at Hinde Street. Preacher: Rev Ken Howcroft. The service will include the British Methodist Youth Choir.
Party (Saturday 20th Nov) 3.30– 9pm
This will be primarily an informal occasion when past and present members of the congregation, including former members of Methsoc and Sunday Night Group, can meet, renew old friendships and share news, but there may be some brief entertainments provided by groups of contemporaries, and the historical exhibition will be on display, probably organised by decades and supplemented by photographs and memorabilia brought by guests.
Service of Thanksgiving for 200 Years at Hinde Street (Sunday 21st November)
11 am. Preacher: The Rev the Lord Leslie Griffiths (Supt of WLM 1986-91)
The Marylebone Service (Tuesday 30th November)
An Interfaith celebration of Marylebone, at Hinde Street
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