Richard Towell’s last service with us and Jennifer Fox’s last Lovefeast as our circuit steward, both having been a huge support and encouragement to us over the last 10 years.
Having recently typed up accounts of previous lovefeasts from old newspaper articles, it occurred to me that it would be a good idea to have a more recent account and so (with help) I have tried to record the Lovefeast on 7 July. Hopefully by reading this account, people will know what to expect and will perhaps come with thoughts to share or a favourite hymn to request.
This year dawned fair, and we were able to assemble in the garden and meet old friends and newcomers before the lovefeast started. Helen Moat and her husband Tom were the first to arrive. She has just written an article about Alport and the Lovefeast for Derbyshire Life. (details below) Anna arrived on her bike from Bamford and her husband Daniel was walking over from Fairholmes. Norman and Annie, Peter and Denise and friends from Glossop were in time for a cup of tea before the service. My sister Jo brought local historian and photographer Richard Bradley from Sheffield and my other sister Billie brought my dad. Kate from Edale chapel had stopped by to bring Susan and Meghan who were in a caravan at Castleton to be on hand but not able to drive up as Brian was unwell. Richard and Amanda arrived and settled Amanda’s chair in the barn. It was so brave of her to come as she was in considerable pain. Other visitors included Richard and Jill from Heyridge farm, whose family have long supported the Lovefeast, Joanna and Peter Mackey (Joanna has helped us to preserve the music and with a group of singers sang at the exhibition last year giving us a recording of the hymns) Althea and John de Carteret from Bamford (Althea photographed the Lovefeast two years ago and her photos were exhibited at the exhibition) and Liz Marshall who facilitated the exhibition. 26 people signed the visitor’s book and there were probably between 40-50 people present, including 4 children which was a joy.
Traditionally the lovefeast begins at 1.30 when the sun is lighting the barn through the end gable window.
Richard Towell had found a reference to conducting a lovefeast in an old book he had, and he read it out to us, reminding us tongue in cheek of the responsibilities ascribed to the preacher. He has kindly typed it up for me :
Instructions on running a Lovefeast from “Collection of Hymns for Camp Meetings, Revivals etc for the use of the Primitive Methodists” by Hugh Bourne.
(his book is inscribed to someone, with the date 1847).
‘Lovefeasts usually open with singing and prayer.* A piece is then sung by way of asking a blessing; after which the bread and water are served out, the Lovefeast collection is made, and a piece sung by way of returning thanks. The preacher makes a few remarks; the people rise in succession, and speak their own experience; and distant comers sometimes say a little about the work of God in other places. But none are allowed to run into useless exhortations, drag out to tedious lengths, or to speak unprofitably of others; and above all not to reflect upon or find fault either with individuals or societies. And it is the preacher’s painful duty to stop all who attempt to trespass. He has to preserve the Lovefeast in its clear and pure course, in order that the people may grow into faith, and that the Holy Ghost may descend.Singing and prayer are occasionally introduced; and the Lovefeast finally closes with prayer.
*It has been a custom to have preaching before a Lovefeast; but this is very generally laid aside on account of its very great inconvenience.’
Generally there is some form of welcome and introduction, finding out where people are from, perhaps why they have come. This year there were quite a number who had not been before.
In years past Eric Cocking used to do an introduction which explained some of the history of the lovefeast. This is printed in the reprint of Hannah Mitchell’s booklet. (We had photocopied a few copies for those who wished to know more.) Andrew has done the introduction in recent years and this year he broadened it to thank Richard and Jennifer for their support over the last 10 years, and we gave each of them a framed photograph of the barn (taken by Althea de Carteret). We had also made postcards of the same picture for those who wanted to take either to remind themselves or invite a friend. Andrew remembered Stanley Bradwell who died this year, and who had often chosen the hymn ‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’ the last line of which speaks of a still small voice of calm. Andrew wished that both Jennifer and Richard would return to the Lovefeast physically but also that the pictures might embody a place of calm to return to in the mind.
Either Mary Bradwell or Joanna Mackey have pitched the note for us over the years and helped us to sing tunefully. Joanna has let me have a list of the hymns chosen this year in addition to the traditional three : Jesu Lover of my Soul, Come and Let us Sweetly Join, and God be with you till we meet again. (There are recordings of these from the exhibition opening night on our facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/pg/hopewoodlands/videos/?ref=page_internal)
314 Old Methodist Hymn Book Come let us sing of a wonderful love
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
What a friend we have in Jesus
Alleluia, Sing to Jesus
Psalm 91
Great is thy faithfulness
Let us with a gladsome mind
Trust and obey
Be thou my vision
And can it be
Love Divine
Joanna chose What a friend we have in Jesus in memory of Maurice Cottrill who often requested it ; I think it was his mother’s favourite. Sallie Cottrill had just stopped attending when we moved here 30 years ago. The Lovefeast had also just stopped being an all day event with a morning service and I believe, that it was also about the time that chapel stopped having monthly services. Maurice asked Andrew to make a small table for the front of Chapel in memory of his mother when she died.
Joanna had noted in 2006 that Maurice had broken Fanny Waterhouse’s record. She had attended for 73 consecutive years. We reflected that Mary Bradwell, who can sadly no longer attend, being in her 90’s had also come since she was a child.
Richard, Maurice’s son and his wife Jill from Heyridge farm were with us this year and Richard explained to us all but particularly to the children present how things had been when he was a child. The children used to sit up on a platform accessed by an old Jacob’s ladder and once up there he remembers the problem of needing to answer the call of nature. For the children at the time it was also a social occasion, as outside of school they didn’t see each other. The barn was pretty much unchanged apart from the supports for the planks which he recalls struggling to position on the uneven floor as year on year they were increasingly suffering from woodworm. (The planks are now on wooden blocks and straw bails.)
My sister Jo read psalm 91 recognising that God had been with us as a family in this difficult year.
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the
shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and
my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
….
“Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will
rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honour him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
She also chose the Hymn, Great is thy Faithfulness which has been a comfort to
our family.
It was sung at the service of thanksgiving for the life of our mother and I remembered how she had visited Alport with me and been very encouraging and supportive as we were making the important decision to move here. It was very special to have my dad and two sisters with us this Lovefeast, 30 years on from our first Lovefeast which happened very soon after moving in. Maurice Cottrill arrived with all that was needful and set up the barn, and Eric Cocking arrived on the day to help with the smooth running.
Daniel Wimberley told of his walk over from Fairholmes which inspired his choice of ‘Let us with a gladsome mind (words by John Milton).
I am not entirely sure who chose the remaining hymns although one of them was chosen by one of the children present.
We pause at a certain point and sing the first verses of Come and Let us Sweetly Join before passing round the cake and water. We then finish the hymn and other contributions are welcomed.
We forgot to take a collection this year, but put out the chapel collecting plates at the end. Apparently in the past, a knife drawer was used.
Last year Richard had been on sabbatical. During this time he visited Uganda and he told us of some of his experiences especially being asked to pray for healing and seeing those prayers answered.
As it was a good-bye to Richard and Amanda, I had baked an extra cake to share in the garden after the gathering, and many people stayed to talk afterwards.
Many thanks to all those who came and we look forward to welcoming all who would like to share with us next year.
Richard Bradley took some photos this year which he shared with us and which are on our facebook page and various other people also shared photos
Photographs by Althea de Carteret from the exhibition in 2017 : https://www.facebook.com/pg/hopewoodlands/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2362777563938135
Hannah Mitchell’s booklet : https://www.facebook.com/pg/hopewoodlands/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2362781560604402
(I don’t include many photos on the blog as it is a free site which does not allow very much data use.)
Helen’s article in the Derbyshire Life digital archive, p 42-45
Woodlands Methodist Church 
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