I have great pleasure in sending greetings to the friends at Rixton on the occasion of the Jubilee of their Church. My wife and I often talk of the happy times we spent among you. God grant that the future may be even more blessed of Him than the past.
REV. SIDNEY J. ROGERS
Saltash, Cornwall
In one of his little books, Dr. Rendell Harris, speaking by way of a parable, says that on the top of the Delectable MounÂtains a pillar has been erected with the following inscriptions on it. On the side looking to the south there is a saying of Moses: "Thou shalt remember all the way that the Lord thy God hath led thee." On the north side there is a reputed saying of Jesus: "Thou shalt look with wonder at that which is before you." It is a good thing at times to remind ourselves of those two sayings. In this Jubilee year you are looking back and thanking God for all He has done for the Church to which you belong during the last fifty years. And from the experience of the past you will gather courage and hope, strength and faith to face the future. Conscious that the guiding hand of God is upon you for good, you will know that God is waiting to do for you greater wonders than any the past has shown. I am thankful to have had the privilege of taking some little part in the life and work of your Church, and I pray that God's richest blessing may rest upon you in the coming days.
REV. A. PERCY BOURNE
Bridlington
In spite of my breakdown in health, which has affected by memory, compelling my retirement from the active ministry, I fortunately remember my happy and lovely service in the Cadishead Circuit.
I very sincerely, and very happily, send my message of greeting on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Rixton Church and Sunday School, built in 1904.
My kind regards and prayerful good wishes to all my friends.
REV. T. SIDNEY WELBOURNE
Timperley
Hearty Greetings on the occasion of the Jubilee of your Church and Sunday School. I have happy memories of the fellowship I enjoyed with you all when I was in the Circuit many years ago.
I hope and pray the Jubilee will bring renewal and revival. May you go forward valiant hearted . . .
The echoes of the past within your hearts The sunshine of the future on your faces."
REV. F. PROCTOR
Watford
Rixton Methodist Church carries its age well! Who would believe that this charming red-brick village Bethel was fifty years old?
Devoted families—names which I recall most readily but which I must not begin to mention have cared for the fabric and built up the fellowship through this half-century.
I remember with gratitude some who have passed on, and to those who remain I send hearty congratulations and good wishes for the coming years.
REV. JOHN E. BARKER
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
As I remember Rixton, I recall the real joy of preaching there; the hearty singing; the warmth of Christian fellowship and the hospitality of the people, which were all tokens of the spiritual life and experience of the members. May this Jubilee be a time not only of grateful remembrance, but of renewed realisation of the present need for the preaching of the eternal Gospel, the maintaining of spiritual life, and the need for prayer and fellowship.
My wife joins me in sending heartiest congratulations to you on this memorable occasion, and together we pray that God's blessing may be upon your life and work in the future as in the past.
REV. ALBERT FAIRHURST
Haverfordwest, Pembroke
It is a privilege to write this word of greeting for your Jubilee celebrations.
The first time I visited Rixton was as a lad of sixteen and supplying for a most acceptable local preacher in our City of Manchester.
If there was any disappointment at the presence of a callow youth in the pulpit it was not shown. The welcome I received was typical of Rixton: to do good to anyone and everyone who came, whether they were in the "first flight" or not. The sermon that day was from the Book of Kings, "How long halt ye between two opinions?" Appreciation after the service was sincere and the people most sympathetic to a beginner.
Not many years afterwards I served there as a Probationer. What memories and what strawberry (Quarterly Meeting) Teas!
A. WATERHOUSE
An field, Liverpool
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