Looking back to the past & rekindling the fire

Joshua 24: 1-2a, 14-18;  John 6: 56-69  & Church Anniversary.

For 210 years people have worshipped in this place.

As part of my preparation I re-read John Morgan’s history of Tabernacle Chapel,Tiers Cross.

 

The story here begins with Arnold Davies – was born Wolfscastle, self-educated, former farm labourer, teacher & traveling preacher. In 1803 came to be minister at Rosemarket and encouraged Christians in Tiers Cross to think of building a chapel here.

 

In 1814 the members raised funds and did much of physical work themselves of building this chapel. 

They named the chapel ‘Tabernacle’ – recognising it as a place to meet with God.

 

I visited John Morgan this week and we were reflecting on the faith of those early members – they were so sure that God wanted there to be a chapel here – and for 110 years they only had the land as a leasehold. Yet they worked hard to build and maintain and improve this building.

 

Then in 1924 the people of the chapel raised the money to purchase the freehold from the Picton Castle Estate. The people of Tiers Cross finally owned the land on which the chapel was built: a reward for their faithful determination.

 

In 1932 the school room was added: an asset for both the church and the village community. In 2013 the hall was refurbished. And to bring us right up to date: this year, 2024, thanks to a community council grant, we have replaced the windows in the hall.

 

In all those 210 years, there has been continuing faithful worship in this place. 

The sense of collected memories and history is strong: but as John says – it is the strength of faith of those who collected money, and made plans, and did new things which has been the story of the chapel  -  “Our Story”, as John calls it. And it’s that which we remember today.

 

That link between the history of people and the faith of people I something we see in the passage we heard from Joshua.

 

Joshua gets all the leaders of the people of Israel together and reminds them of the God who in love took them out of slavery in Egypt. The people are no longer slaves, forced to serve the Pharaoh. They are free to make their own decisions. 

 

Then Joshua asks them to decide who they will serve from that point on – will they serve the gods their ancestors served previously? 

Or in recognition of all that the One True God has done for them – 

sending them Moses to lead them, securing their release from Egypt, bringing them across the Red Sea and through the wilderness – in recognition of all that , all those mighty acts of God, will they now decide to serve God?

The answer of the people to Joshua’s question ‘will you serve this saving God?” is, of course yes.

 

We could ask ourselves the same question today.

Will we today decide to continue to serve the God who sent Arnold Davies; who inspired those who saved, and gave, worked, and dreamed to build this chapel; the God who has helped people continue to worship and serve here for 210 years. Will we serve this saving, leading God?”. The answer, I’m sure, is YES.

 

And yet we recognise that times change, that people move on, that we all age.. and we might sometimes worry that we are not what we were. We might even wonder if as churches, we are all losing our way.

 

That’s when we need to remind ourselves of why we are here.

 

John told me another story, not about this chapel, but a story that made me think about the difference people of faith can make in the world.

 

For many years Old Point House pub in Angle served its community. It was first registered as an ale house in 1802 (when it was known as the New Inn) but became the Old Point House in 1815. It passed through the hands of very few owners and was always an important part of the life of Angle village: notably as the lifeboat crew’s local from the time they started saving lives from Angle in 1868. The pub was proud to always offer a welcome and a warm place to the crew. John remembers going there in his youth and being impressed to find that the fire in the large old fireplace never went out – so that the kettle could always be boiled quickly for the lifeboat crew when they came back from a shout out. 

For many years the pub was run by two sisters, Pattie and Annie – and they claimed that the fire had burned continously for decades.

In 2018 the pub changed hands. John visited to show the big old fireplace to his son. He was sad to find the fire had gone out. The pub closed in 2020. John told me the story very simply “they let the fire go out”.

 

It can happen to churches, too – over the years, we can let the fire go out. So what can keep the fire burning here – or in any of our chapels or churches?

We can listen to the words of Peter in our gospel reading. 

 

Jesus has been talking to the crowd about what the life he has to offer – he calls himself ‘the bread of life’ – the gift from God that can nurture people and bring them fully alive – kindling hope in their lives. Some people find this too difficult to grasp and turn away from Jesus. They let the fire go out.

 

But when Jesus asks his twelve closest followers ‘do you also wish to leave?’, Simon responds “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”.

To whom can we go? Where else can we find life? Peter is clear that they are sticking with Jesus – relying on his saving power, his leading of their lives, the fire that he lights in them. They will not let that fire go out.

 

I haven’t yet managed to visit the Old Point House in Angle – which has reopened with new management. They are very proud of the history of the pub - I got a lot of the detail of the story from their website; perhaps in their own way they are making sure the fire burns on.

Keeping the fire burning doesn’t mean not allowing there to be changes, but it does mean honouring the past.

 

We can keep the fire from going out for us by remembering what God has done for us – collectively and individually. 

We can keep each other’s faith alight by sharing stories of God’s goodness – in the Bible and in our own lives. We can continue to worship God, pray for our communities, and invite people to join us to hear the words of eternal life – the wonderful offer of God’s love in Jesus.

 

After 210 years here – let’s make sure the light of the good news of God’s love never goes out.

And may God’s Spirit and God’s strength help us to do this. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.