HORTON Bank Methodist Church is celebrating its 150th anniversary with celebrations over the coming weekend.

Members of the church and the public are invited to attend the Church on Saturday October 30 for an exhibition on the history of the church and a late Afternoon Tea.  

On Sunday October 31, past members of the church are invited to book in for a Buffet tea after the service which will be delivered by Reverend Roberta Topham, who now serves in Ilkley.

Horton Bank Methodist Church has been at the heart of the community, celebrating national and local events from the Queen’s Jubilee in 2012 to the local newsletters 50th anniversary.

Anne Sheard, who is now a steward at the church has been attending for 76 years and Is celebrating her 80th birthday on Christmas Eve said: “It’s going to be a lovely event if everything runs smoothly.

“I’ve been coming to this church since I was three years old and I’m so glad we get to celebrate this.

“This is something positive for Bradford and we want to highlight that, and we want the people of Bradford to know who we are.”

The church has been decorated in flowers and balloons in honour of this remarkable celebration.

Messages have been left in the foyer of the church from members, highlighting their memories of the church and what it means to them.

The event will see the attendance of several former ministers.

The foundation stone for the Horton Bank Primitive Methodist Church was laid on Saturday February 25, 1871, by Briggs Priestly Esq.

The church formerly became Horton Park Methodist Church in 1932, after the Primitive, United and Wesleyan Methodists amalgamated to become the Methodist Church.

The event is being held by a group of church goers who are excited to share this celebration with members of the community.

The centenary was marked in 1971, and the cross on the front of the Sunday School building was lit from sunset until 11pm each day.

Similarly, the Church was decorated in floral arrangements, with a service at 4pm and a buffet tea served after.

The mission statement for the Church was changed to ‘here for all’ in 2001, to meet the needs of the community and to make the It as accessible for the wider community.

Reverend Sarah Jemison commented: “Anniversaries are a time for celebration: a time for remembering bygone days and for anticipating the future.

“A church anniversary adds a further dimension.

“We give thanks for the way the church has continued to strive to be open, accessible, inclusive- with a sound system, ramp, children receiving Holy Communion, Saturday lunches, children’s activities and so much more.

“We give thanks for the Church’s commitment to those in need and those seeking justice, both locally and globally.

“We celebrate that God, has been with us and is with us now, as we celebrate in these uncertain times.

“2021 is a very different world from that of 1871!”

The founding fathers of the church may not recognise the technology that is now being used in services or the neighbourhood the church is nestled in, but they would find the same spirituality and fellowship within the church.