On the 13th September I attended the 150th anniversary of the consecration of St. Mark’s Church in Winshill. This beautiful church was completed in 1869 and has been the centre of its community ever since.
The celebration of its consecration was attended by myself and other civic dignitaries, the patrons of the church, the preacher, the craftsmen and the congregation of Winshill. The service was led by St. Mark’s vicar, the Reverend Philip Bosher, who began with a welcoming prayer and worship to God. This was followed by our first hymn, “All creatures of our God and King”.
Reverend Philip Bosher then led us in prayers of penitence, a prayer for the mission of the church, and a prayer for the community. The congregation then joined in for the Lord’s prayer and our second hymn, “O Jesus, I have promised”.
Councillor Colin Wileman, Mayor of East Staffordshire Borough Council, provided us with the first reading of the service, Romans Chapter 5, verses 1 to 11. Psalm 122 was then sung by Mr Roy Barratt, and a second reading, John Chapter 4, verses 7 to 26, was read by Mr Ben Robinson MBE, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Staffordshire. The whole congregation then joined in for the hymn “O for a thousand tongues to sing”.
The Venerable Dr. Christopher Cunliffe, Archdeacon of Derby provided the Address, which was both moving and uplifting. We all then sang the hymn “We have a gospel to proclaim” and joined in with the prayers for the whole community. The last hymn of the service, “Let all the world in every corner sing”, was followed by the Acclamation and the National Anthem, before the vicar offered his final blessing of the service.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and I’d like to thank the members of St. Mark’s Church for organising such a fantastic service and including me in their celebrations.