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Methodist Church …
Wickhambrook Methodist Church is in the Ely & Newmarket Methodist Circuit and part of the East Anglian District. The Superintendent is the Rev Colin Watkins who is based at Soham Methodist Church. The Minister for Wickhambrook is the Rev Seo Sangwoo who lives in Newmarket, responsible for the churches in the old Newmarket Circuit which comprise of Newmarket, Saxon Street, Red Lodge and Wickhambrook.
Our Senior Steward is Ivan Peacock who lives in Wickhambrook. The Superintendent organises local preachers to take most of our services and we have a rota system where every other month or so, all the churches within the old Newmarket circuit can join together for worship. Both Superintendent Watkins and Rev Sangwoo visit Wickhambrook to take services on a regular basis for and also cover weddings, christenings and other special events in our calendar.
The Methodist Church has a main Church with a foyer and gallery. Adjacent is the school room which in days gone by was used for Sunday School which at present an attempt is being made by Mrs Celia Hawley to start again with schools twice per month.
School Room for hire
The school room is available as a function room should anyone wish to use it. It has a kitchen facility and toilets.
Our services usually have four to five hymns, Bible readings, prayers and a sermon. We always have, once a month after family service,now called an All Age Service with tea and coffee and time for a chat afterwards. Our services are warm and friendly and the social gatherings afterwards are an important time for us. At special times during the Christian calendar we have services where we join together with the Wickhambrook United Reformed Church. We also have ‘get together’ evenings where we meet up with others from the surrounding villages within the old Newmarket Methodist circuit and have a 5pm service followed by a 6pm tea. We are also a member of the Churches Together in Wickhambrook and District.
Church Steward
Ivan Peacock
01440 820833
Treasurer
David Turner
01440 820346
01440 820346
Superintendent
Rev Colin Watkins
01353 720347
01353 720347
Minister
Rev seo Sangwoo
01638 662837
01638 662837
All Age Service
We have a All Age Service once a month which we hope encourages people with children to join us. The service is a shortened version and has a special mention for the children.
Wickhambrook Primary School
Wickhambrook Primary School use the Church at Easter for a service and their own play. For this service and during Harvest Festival the children, with their parents come to us for the afternoon.
Messy Church
Usually held on a Saturday morning from 10.30 to 12.30pm. Run by Ceila Hawley it’s for children to have fun at the Church with various activities followed by a short religious theme. It is open to all children and is reasonably well attended of course there is room for many more.
Harmony Hour
This is a very successful meeting group which started over 20 years ago. There are currently over 20 members and it is historically for ladies to get together every other Tuesday at 2.30pm for a time of fellowship and praise with a varied programme at each meeting followed by tea and biscuits and a time to socialise. All are welcome whether you be a church goer or not and of any denomination. In October they hold a special service in recognition of their anniversary followed by tea. They also have a Christmas Tea in December. If you are interested in joining this then please speak to Beryl Peacock who is the leader and organiser.
Anniversary
On the first Sunday in November of every year we hold two special services to celebrate our anniversary, morning service at 10.30am and evening service at 5pm followed by a tea at 6pm. Please join us for this special occasion.
Christian Aid Week
This is always held during May and all Churches throughout the country follow a printed service which is provided by Christian Aid. The Churches Together of Wickhambrook and District join in this service with us which is based on a third world country and tells us about people that the organisation have helped and what they have done with their lives since receiving aid. The service is on a Thursday and we have a coffee evening and a bring and buy to help raise money to support this worthy cause.
Harvest Festival
On the first Sunday in October we will be holding our Harvest Festival. This is a wonderful time to visit the Church with the produce from local gardens together with other goods on display. Members from the other Church communities often join us for this service and on the following Tuesday we hold a Harvest Supper at the MSC where the produce can be enjoyed by all. This supper is an open invitation for you all to join us and tickets will be on sale closer to the time. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the Church.
Christmas Eve - Candlelight Service
This service which starts at 11.30pm has a very special atmosphere and is well attended in the village. We have a special advent candle holder which is in the shape of a cross with candles on it being lit throughout advent. The service takes us past midnight so that we can welcome Christmas Day by lighting the white candle in the middle which has come to us from Bethlehem. At this time of year people especially find it in their hearts to give generously to those less fortunate and the proceeds from the evening are sent to the National Children’s Home. Please join us.
Christmas Carol Service
This is usually around mid December at 10.30am. We usually have the Christmas Tree and other festive flower arrangements in place and we have carols and readings followed by coffee and mince pies.
A Short History …
Wickhambrook Methodist Church, the church with a great history and an even greater future working in co-operation with other local Christians.
Compared to the other churches of the village we are the youngsters in the race although almost 150 years old this youngster is getting a bit long in the tooth.
Methodism first began in Wickhambrook when Mr Billy Durrant from Bury St Edmunds held services on the various Greens in 1840. He then held fellowship meetings in a cottage and eventually a Primitive Methodist Society was formed as part of the Saffron Walden Primitive Circuit.
The present building was constructed in 1850, a Manse (was purchases and a minister) appointed. Wickhambrook became the head of a Primitive Methodist Circuit that included Haverhill, Barrow and Newmarket. The Wickhambrook Society became an important part of the Newmarket Methodist Union in 1932. Between December 1856 and July 1857 the membership grew from sixty-one to one hundred and forty.
It is almost inevitable that when celebrating 150 years of work and witness we should think about the past but Christians must never dwell on the past, we are grateful for the past but we must also be alive to the present. The Gospel truths are unchanging and while we at Wickhambrook believe this we are still prepared to embrace the new ways to witness and worship. Our Church may be old but we are not “Old Fashioned”.
