About WMC

150 Years of Woodford Methodist Church

 1876 was the year they laid these bricks, to our spiritual home, our haven, church our cornerstone. But the story I’ll tell you goes back further than that, back to 1703 and that’s a matter of fact…

John Wesley, Charles and George were a group of three,

Who had a clear idea of what religion should be.

Methodism was born and their dream began,

John travelled thousands of miles following God’s plan.

He spoke of holiness, and grace, and social action,

As he fasted and prayed his sermons gained great traction.

His style of worship was methodical, with scripture at its core,

He wrote hymns of praise and thanks, and did so much more.

Showing the world his love for God, his faith and devotion,

He did it with conviction, not just as a notion.

But time is short, so if it’s okay with you,

I’ll move this story on several decades or two…

What you see around you hasn’t always been this way,

This church looked very different back in the day.

There were wooden pews filling this place,

And the Haven at the entrance was a non-descript space.

We’ve had thirty seven ministers since we opened our doors,

Preaching through booms and busts, and Covid, and two world wars.

Rev KC is our minister of the day,

He joined us last September and we’re hoping he’ll stay.

His sermons are rousing, honest and true,

Reminding us always, with God you start anew.

We’re a church of all ages, from young babies through to old and wise,

And this place unites us, it’s a big part of our lives.

We gather on a Sunday at half past ten,

We sing, we pray, we worship then we head to our den,

It’s not strictly a den, it’s a haven in fact,

Where we chat and drink a brew and feel supported and backed.

The members of the church have a multitude of roles,

Stewards and treasurers help church life unfold,

Musicians, cooks, youth leaders and safeguarders too,

All play important roles and they love what they do.

One fifty years of worship one fifty more to come,

We’ve served the Lord and done Wesley proud, but there’s much more to be done,

This church is our home, but it’s the community’s too,

With so many events laid on for me and for you.

We’ve had quizzes, fetes and fun days, lunch clubs, coffee mornings too,

Brownies, dance groups, Boys Brigade and a choir or two.

There’s also Messy Church – you know, that’s us! –  It’s what we do,

Every month we meet right here and do a craft or two.

We’ve reclaimed Rap and used it to God’s glory,

We’ve found a new way to tell the Christian story.

We act, mime and perform, our excitement we can’t hide,

Our imaginations we explore, with the bible as our guide.

Singing and music are also part of what we do,

Every session is varied, we’re always learning something new.

Seventy five million Methodists still practice to this day,

In countries all across the world they praise the Wesley way.

We celebrate this birthday and all that’s gone before,

We look ahead at what’s to come and keep an open door.

The next one fifty years feel like a lifetime away,

And the world is changing rapidly, every single day.

But God remains our strength, our peace, our hope and our guide,

Wherever life takes us, He’ll be right by our side.

Written by the Messy Church Group – July 2026