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The Methodist Church

The United Reformed Church




 picture of the inside of the church


Matlock Methodist & United Reformed Church, also known within the community as Bank Road Church, is a wonderful building with access for all and modern facilities and is located on the hillside above Matlock Town centre in the Peak District of Derbyshire.

As well as the worship services each week, the Church has a wide variety of groups and activities that meet and provide fellowship and fun for all ages including community groups that regularly use the premises.

This Church is constantly looking to ways of working in the community and reaching out to those in need both locally and further a field with more than just donations. We have committed to supporting Fairtrade products and the Make Poverty History campaign.

Everyone is welcome to come to this Church and it is prayed that they will find rest, refreshment and peace in a caring, praying community and our LORD JESUS CHRIST.


Image of Rev. Lyn Houghton

Message From Our Minister

Latest Manse Musings


God blesses His people - the church, for a reason - so that through them the world may be blessed.

We are celebrating our Church Anniversary and Gift Day and so I decided this year to organise a special Anniversary cake. As a cake it isn't half bad, if I say so myself. All the finest ingredients went into it; no expense spared, cooked to perfection, it took ages to mature and then decorate, and the result..... mmm! However, it was so good and I told so many about it, that all I have left now is the crumbs! The cake is gone... taken, eaten, enjoyed, used and giving pleasure and nourishment to others.

The measure of the success of my cake is that all I have left is the crumbs! Happy Church Anniversary!

What is the measure of the success of this church or any church come to that? Well, the mark of a successful church is the light that shines from it over the years, the sharing and fellowship from within the church, the teaching and difference that the church makes to those inside and outside of it. We may look around us and say ... 'how things have changed'. There are empty seats where loved ones sat not so very long ago. There are welcome new faces, perhaps new ideas which could become traditions. We can share memories of great times in the past and treasure particular memories such as baptisms, marriages, and thanksgiving services. We look back wistfully; with a pang of fear for the future as well as thankfulness for the successes of the past.

Where are those who used to be with us? Well, they're not in our building. They are gone, all over the place, spent in giving and energising others. Their Christ-light shining in other areas of the country, in other parts of God's Kingdom, and those now in God's nearer presence. Meanwhile, we continue to share the good news, witness and worship, we trim our wicks and shine our lights looking to the future with hope and trust.

The success of a good cake can be seen by the way it disappears. My mom always said: 'its a waste of time baking in this house, it's gone in no time. All that's left are the crumbs!' Then at the right time, she'd bake all over again. Not always the same recipe; we weren't always sure what flavour cake it would be nor whose favourite it would be the next time, but sure enough.... the warmth and the delicious aroma would get us going once more, and the cake tin would be full again.

But if you want a cake to stay on display, perfect, un-spoiled, un-used...its not actually much use as a cake. Leave it to be admired too long and it will go stale and decay. To be left intact and unchanged it will have to be a model, a cake made of soap, plastic or something no-one can eat. It will taste dreadful and be only good as an ornament of no good use to God, of no use to a hungry family.

If you want a perfect church, a church to be admired, on display, perfect, un-spoiled, un-used, then of what use can it be? How can it bless others? It will be stale and it will decay. It won't have real people who come and go, because it can't change over time and it can't have life. The model church might look good but it can't be of value to God nor humanity.

At our church anniversary, there's much to give thanks for and much to look forward to. We celebrate because this church is REAL, with real people who come and go. There is God's light which shines from this place; sometimes very brightly, other times it flickers. Sometimes this place will be full, as it often is and has been in the past, but it won't always be full. It may yet be almost empty.. when all that's left are the crumbs... BUT what a cake.... what a God! As a church and as individuals we ask God's help in our being faithful to whatever he wants to bless in the future and we thank God for cake crumbs!!

God blesses his people so that through them the world may be blessed.

Rev Lyn <><

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Church Membership

The Church has a membership that has been between 100 and 150 in number in recent years. We are always pleased to welcome new Members and to have the opportunity to encourage non-Members to consider membership. Membership is transferable between Churches so when Church Members move to and from an area they can transfer their membership to their local Church if they wish so that they can fulfil their obligations as Church Members.

Membership of the Methodist or United Reformed Church is not a requirement of attending worship services or any of the regular meetings or activities held in the Church premises. Church Membership is for when an individual has reached a decision in their faith life that means they are prepared to commit themselves to following Jesus Christ in their daily lives.

Image of Candle & Bible

As a Member of the Methodist Church you are called to: -
  • Worship within the local church, including regular sharing in Holy Communion, and through personal prayer
  • Learning and caring, through bible study and meeting for fellowship, so that you may grow in faith and support others in their discipleship
  • Service, by being a good neighbour in the community, challenging injustice and using your resources to support the Church in its mission in the world.
  • Evangelism, through working out your faith in daily life and sharing Christ with others.

Church Membership preparation classes are held for Christians of all ages and the Church provides the ongoing support and infrastructure for Church Members to fulfil their commitment to the Church and to Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Quick Links


Introduction
Message from our Minister
Church Membership
Worship Services
Music In Worship
Church Structure

image of the altar

Worship Services

The regular worship services held in our Church are open to anyone to come to, whether Christian or non-Christian. We would ask that when you do come, you respect the setting for those who are worshipping.

Image of Wine

Sundays other than first of the month
Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. followed by Coffee & Tea

First Sunday of the Month
Morning Communion 9:30 a.m. followed by Refreshments at 10:15 and Family Service at 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. approx.

Third Sunday of the Month (Apr - Sept)
Café Style Celebration 7:00 p.m. (During BST)

Third Wednesday of each month
Holy Communion service 11:00 am

Our services are led by both ordained Ministers and non-ordained worship leaders, called Lay Preachers and thereby we enjoy a variety of styles of worship that all bring glory to God and seek to strengthen our love of our Lord Jesus.

Our Sunday Morning Worship Services regularly have around 70 people attending and other services enjoy a range of attendances with the Worship Room capable of accommodating over 200 people.

We enjoy the sound of children and if you do have youngsters with you, they are welcome too.

For those who would prefer to retire to our crèche with their youngster, the sound system in the Church relays into the crèche so that you may still hear the service.

The Junior and Youth Church that runs during our Sunday morning worship services has groups that cater for those as young as the age of 3. There are three groups, 3 ups, 7 ups and 11 ups all with a warm welcome for any young people who would like to join with them.

The Church in common with Methodist and United Reformed Church practice enjoys the benefit of having a variety of ordained Preachers and non-ordained lay Preachers or worship leaders to lead the services and our Minister, Rev. Lyn Houghton preaches both at our Church and other Churches in the Derbyshire Dales Circuit.

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Music In Worship

We use the Hymns & Psalms and The Source hymn books, together with occasional songs from other publications or sources. Our Bible is the Good News Bible and again occasionally other translations and versions are utilised.

Within the Church chairs there are copies of each of the hymn books and bibles and other service books are provided as required. We also have large print versions of the books for those who may need them. It is asked that all of these resources are respected.

Within our Sunday Morning Worship Services we enjoy the benefit of a mixed group of musicians who join together with the keyboard and organ in providing our music for the service. Our singing is also led by a choir who occasionally perform anthems or other musical items during the service.

Our Sunday Evening Worship Services largely have the organ or keyboard to provide our music and only on special occasions are other instruments playing. The Sunday Evening services are often calming and reflective services of worship and prayer though not always.

Our other worship and communion services do not normally have musical items although occasionally the sound system is used to play musical accompaniment or reflective music.

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Local Church Structure

Our Church is a Local Ecumenical Partnership between the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church and we are a part of the Derbyshire Dales Circuit of the Methodist Church within the Nottingham & Derby District as well as being a part of the United Reformed Church, East Midlands Synod.

Our partner Churches in the Derbyshire Dales Circuit include Dale Road, Darley Hillside, Hackney, Wensley, Winster, St. Helens, Matlock Moor, Tansley, Bolehill, Cromford, Holloway and Wirksworth.

Rev. Lyn Houghton is also Minister for Matlock Moor Methodist Church.



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