FARNHAM Methodist Church opened its doors to the community on Saturday, September 26, joining a network of more than 1,300 churches and individuals during a National Weekend of Prayer organised by CWR, a centre for Christian publishing and training based at Waverley Abbey House.

Churches across the country were encouraged to make contact with their local communities and offer prayers during the weekend of September 25 to 27, having identified particular needs.

The Methodist Church in South Street responded to this initiative, inviting organisations and individuals to write names and specific requests on prayer slips.

On the Saturday, passers-by were welcomed into the church hall to enjoy conversation, tea or coffee and a seemingly endless supply of cakes baked by members of the congregation.

In the main church, five ‘prayer spaces’, creatively arranged by Jane Davies and Sue Dawson, provided contemplative areas for visitors to sit quietly for a time of reflection or prayer.

Each space visually represented a contemporary theme, and printed prayers, specially written by Jane Foxwell, were also available.

Prayer trees with colourful leaves on which names could be recorded were made by The Farnham Community Group, which meets regularly at the premises, and Farnham Methodist Church Girls’ Brigade.

Church members were pleased by a positive reception from people they contacted, several of whom explained that they did not usually pray or attend church. They were also delighted by the number of individuals who came into the church during the Saturday.

Visitors included students from the University for the Creative Arts and other young people, families, groups of young children and even walkers on their way to Canterbury, all glad of a time of rest and refreshment.

Some remarked on the pleasing aroma of fresh bread, flowers and fruit in the prayer spaces, and on the gentle sounds of recorded birdsong.

One person commented: “The stones of this building are cold, but the welcome here is warm.”

Members of the weekend’s prayer team described how glad they were that their Methodist Church was involved in CWR’s project, which built on the vision of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, of “a church that prays and is reconciled and reconciling” in a transformed society.

Farnham Methodist Church meets every Sunday at 10.30am, and visitors of all ages are very welcome. The minister is Reverend Conrad Hicks.