Going to a Methodist Service in a Cottage |
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In her book, 'Lark Rise to Candleford' Flora Thompson also describes a visit to a Methodist service which took place - as many Chapel services did - in a cottage in the village: 'The first thing that would have struck anyone less accustomed to the place was its marvellous cleanliness. The cottage walls were whitewashed and always fresh and clean. The everyday furniture had been carried out to the barn to make way for the long white wooden benches and before the window with its drawn white blind stood a table covered with a linen cloth, on which were the lamp, a large Bible and a glass of water for the visiting preacher, whose seat was behind it. Only the clock and a pair of red china dogs on the mantelpiece remained to show that on other days people lived and cooked and ate in the room. A bright fire always glowed in the grate and there was a smell compounded of lavender, lamp oil and packed humanity. The man of the house stood in the doorway to welcome each arrival with a handshake and a whispered 'God bless you!' His wife, a small woman with a slight spinal curvature, which thrust her head forward and gave her a resemblance to an amiable looking frog, smiled her welcome from her seat near the fireplace. |
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In twos and threes, the brethren filed in and took their accustomed places on the hard, backless benches. With them came a few neighbours, not of their community, but glad to have somewhere to go, especially on wet or cold Sundays. In the dim lamplight dark Sunday suits and sad-coloured Sunday gowns massed together in a dark huddle against the speckless background and out of it, here and there, eyes and cheeks caught the light as the brethren smiled their greeting to each other. If the visiting preacher happened to be late, which he often was with a long distance to cover on foot, the host would give out a hymn from Sankey and Moody's Hymn-Book, which would be sung without musical accompaniment to one of the droning, long-drawn-out tunes peculiar to the community. At other times one of the brethren would break into extemporary prayer, in the course of which he would retail the week's news so far as it affected the gathering, prefacing each statement with 'Thou knowest', or 'As thou knowest, Lord'. |
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village cottage |
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Methodism, as known and practised there, was a poor people's religion, simple and crude; but its adherents brought to it more fervour than was shown by the church congregation, and appeared to obtain more comfort and support from it than the church could give. Their lives were exemplary.' (Taken from 'Lark Rise to Candleford' by Flora Thompson, chapter 14, 'To Church on Sunday'. Used by permission of Oxford University Press) |
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Going to a Brethren Chapel |