ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My warmest thanks must first go to the members of the chapel
who asked me to write this history and especially the members of the editorial
committee, Joyce Stevenson (nee Chew), Peter Morris, Neville Thorman and
Michael Tierney, whose enthusiasm, encouragement and practical contributions
have brought the work to fruition. should also like to thank on behalf of us
all Bob Jeffs whose delightful drawings enhance the book, and Philip Clack and
his staff for the typing. Finally, I should like to thank Harry Cook and Mrs
Chamberlain for their memories, and Peter Hardiment, Circuit archivist, and the
staff of the Berkshire Record Office.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
The surviving chapel records include a seat rent book,
minute books of the trustees meetings, the class leaders meetings, the Sunday
School and the present Church Council, account books, pulpit notice books,
class books, collection books and correspondence. The oldest - an account book
- dates from the opening of the chapel in 1886. These are still held by the
chapel.
The memorials of Mrs Tough, which proved so invaluable in
understanding the early struggles, are in private hands.
Most of the Circuit records are now deposited at the
Berkshire Record Office though a few are still with the Circuit archivist. The
most useful for this history of the chapel have been the minute books of the
Maidenhead Primitive Methodist Circuit, circuit plans and the Circuit magazine,
'Link'. Useful reference was also made to Methodism in Maidenhead' by Peter
Hardiment, 'A Register of Methodist Circuit Plans containing chapels and
churches in Buckinghamshire' compiled by Colin Shepherdson, 'The Evolution of
the Windsor Circuit 1815 to 1933' by Norman Nickless, 'The Souvenir Handbook of
the Centenary Celebrations' of the Winkfield Row Methodist Church and 'Our Lady
Trustee' by Robert Andrews. The 'Windsor and Eton Express' were also consulted
for 1886 and 1930.
The Ordnance Survey maps are reproduced by permission of the
Ordnance Survey.
Foreword
It is as great a privilege to be asked to write a foreword
to this history of the Eton Wick Chapel as it has been to serve as Minister of
this company of people over the past five years. The liveliness of fellowship
and worship within these walls is matched by the loving care and outreach that
goes into the village and neighbouring community, and both stem from the story
of evangelism and teaching that is recorded in this booklet. It is a story of
faith and vision, of spiritual foundations well and truly laid, and above all,
of the commitment of individual people arising out of their love for the Lord
Jesus. But the main purpose of this record, and the essential theme of a
centenary is to inspire us for the future. The Centenary Year of 1986 is a time
of stock-taking, praising God for all that is past, and being prepared to trust
Him for all that's to come. It involves a degree of stock-taking, putting
questions to ourselves.
Are we a Guided Church - led by the Holy Spirit in tasks for
today? Are we a Worshipping Church - knowing the difference between
"Holding a Service" and truly giving God His "worth-ship"
in the whole of our lives? Are we a Trained Church - matching an instructed
faith to the days of opportunity in which we live? Are we a Sending Church -
like the Church at Antioch where the members were first called Christians? Are
we sending people forward as Local Preachers, Candidates for the Ministry; into
vocations such as Nursing, Teaching, Caring for children and the aged? May the
good Lord help Us to launch vigorously into the next hundred years, as we have
in the past.
Yours sincerely,
Ray Rowland
The Tough Assignment by Judith Hunter is reproduce on the website with the kind permission of the Eton Wick Methodist Chapel.
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