I RECENTLY received a de-lightful present from a friend:a copy of John Betjeman’s“Poems in the Porch”. Howthe author loved to wanderround old churches, soakingup the atmosphere fromstones drenched in prayer.He gives us many a memo-rable line, sometimes con-taining a profound truth, atother times poking gentle funat the eccentricities of ch -urch-goers.

The first poem is entitled“The Diary of a Church Mo -use”. In case you are not fa-miliar with it, let me tell youhow it goes:

“Here among long-dis-carded cassocks,Damp stools, and half openhassocks,Here where the vicar neverlooksI nibble through old serv-ice books.”The little mouse looks for-

ward to harvest festival tosupplement his meagre diet,but complains because thechurch on that occasion is in-vaded by other mice whonever appear at any othertime – like some worship-pers!

On numerous occasions I

have preached in tiny build-ings with no architecturalmerits and I have known andshared with the diminutivecongregation a sense ofGod’s presence. Like JohnBetjeman, I have also derivedmuch pleasure from viewingbeautiful churches, some-times as a visitor, but not in-frequently as preacher.

Memories

I want to share with youmemories of one of these: theChurch of the Saviour inCleveland, Ohio, surely oneof the most beautiful Meth -odist churches in the world.

The story of my relation-ship with this great churchgoes back to Oslo, in Norwaywhere I addressed the WorldMethodist Conference heldthere in 1961. One of the peo-ple who came up to speak tome after the address was theRev Dr Howard Brown, thesenior minister of the Churchof the Saviour. He invited me

to fill his pulpit for a monthwhile he was away. That wasthe beginning of a wonder-ful friendship with that FriarTuck of a man and with thechurch which he led.

Some months later I ar-rived with my family to takeup residence in the huge par-sonage. It was 10 o’clock inthe evening and as we droveinto the city I saw what ap-peared to be a large cathe-dral, gloriously floodlit. It wasthe church in which I shouldpreach during the followingmonth and on many subse-quent occasions, and inwhich we should make en-during friendships.

The members of thechurch staff became my life-long friends. They includedthree ordained ministers, afull-time director of musicand numerous other lay em-ployees. A “social secretary”had been appointed to lookafter my diary, organise themany kind invitations wehad received and supervisesuch delights as a visit to Ni-agara Falls.

On my first Sunday I ad-dressed the morning adultSunday school. It was an in-spiring start to the day, withabout 150 people present.Then we all repaired to thelounge for coffee and cookiesbefore joining the large con-gregation in the sanctuary forthe main worship service ofthe day. Talking with some ofthe folk, I learned about thecharitable outreach of thechurch into the poorer partsof the city and beyond. I wasthen directed to the vestry for

a time of quiet preparationfor the service.

On my desk, as I write,there is a treasured book en-titled “A Faith Filled Land-mark”. It is full of colour pho-tographs and descriptions ofthe Chur ch of the Saviour.The book takes us on aguided tour of the church andits ancilliary buildings, stop-ping to explain the rich sym-bolism of the great chancelwindow, the great west win-dow and the other stain edglass windows: 43 in all. Theydisplay pictures of the pro -phets, Jesus and the Ap ostles,sundry saints and, of course,leading Methodists like Johnand Charles Wesley.

In the sanctuary we areshown the exquisite woodcarvings of pulpit and lect -ern, and the impressive bap-tistry. We can also admire theseven-feet-long wrought ironchandeliers which light thenave. The Lord’s Table ismade of white marble and is

furnished with cross and tallcandles.

The music of the church isled by a four-manual organwhich has 2,500 pipes, aswell as the 610 in the an-tiphonal organ at the far endof the church. There is a largegowned choir and the hand-bell ringers often add theirown contribution to the wor-ship.

Beauty

Leaving the sanctuary wecan explore the beauty of thesmaller Myers MemorialChapel – often used for wed-dings – the lounge, library,offices and extensive kitch -ens. I learn with astonish-ment that a cultural centrehas just been added. It wasthis that prompted me toshare with you these happymemories.

I should not have cared toshow you round this particu-lar church unless I could

have gone on to tell you thatit is the centre of a great workof God. To describe that inany detail would requiremany pages. The member-ship exceeds 2,000 and, un-der the current inspiringleadership of Dr CharlesYoost and his team, contin-ues to grow.

Just to turn the pages of thebook in front of me fills myheart with deep gratitude. Ihope that you, dear reader,will have gained some inspi-ration from what I have writ-ten about this “Faith FilledLandmark” where the words,“O worship the Lord in thebeauty of holiness” are won-derfully illustrated.

Not many Methodist con-gregations have the re-sources that have createdthis great building, but wecan all seek to make ourchurches as welcoming andas beautiful as possible, forbeauty and holiness do in-deed belong together.

24 • FEATURES Thursday, March 3, 2011 • METHODIST RECORDER

Published by the MethodistNews paper Co Ltd, 122 GoldenLane, London EC1Y 0TL andregistered at the Post Office as anewspaper. Printed by YorkshireWeb, 47 Church Street, Barnsley,South Yorkshire S70 2AS. Tradedistribution by Comag SpecialistDivision, Tavistock Road, WestDrayton, Middlesex UB7 7QX,telephone 01895 433800.

The United Methodist “Church of the Saviour” in Cleveland, Ohio.

Kenneth GreetMonthly column

AS one who has a great regard for the work, initiative andimaginative enterprise of the Luton Industrial College,may I be allowed to comment on the article which ap-peared in last week’s Recorder. It seems to me to be agrave error on the part of the Warden when he uses suchterms as “utterly irrelevant”, “more remote” and “little rel-evance” when he mentions the local Methodist chapelsin the mining areas. It just is not true to say that “theChurch has retreated into its four walls and become in-grained and ‘frozen’, and, insofar as the community isconcerned, inarticulate.” While it may be true that thereis little to be shown in the way of advance on the coal-fields, it is also true that there has been much heart-searching and enterprising action on behalf of thechurches. There are many of our Methodist people, bothlay and ministerial, who are deeply concerned about thesituation as it now stands. The setting up of the LutonCollege has met with wide approval from these people,but what is needed is a comprehensive plan of action. Nota recriminative criticism but a concerted scheme of evan-gelism specially suited to colliery areas. If Mr Gowlandcan desist from lashing those who work in those areaswith the faults of the past, and encourage them with aplan suited to the rapidly changing conditions of thecoal industry, it would be most acceptable.

One of the reasons that the Church is separated by agulf from the social life of the mining community is fi-nancial. Methodism does not have a levy from the ma-jority of colliery workers, nor can it finance its activitiesfrom the profits of alcoholic beverages and of sweep-stakes, raffles and tombola – The Rev N Berryman

50 Years AgoMethodist Recorder, March 2, 1961

Mines: the road back

A faith-filled landmark

“What’s the latest about the cuts?”