Hark! from the cross a gracious voice
Salutes my ravished ears;
“Rejoice, thou ransomed soul, rejoice,
And dry those falling tears.”
Amazed, I turn, grown strangely bold,
This wondrous thing to see;
And there the dying Lord behold,
Stretched on the bloody tree!
St Cuthbert’s Church at Lorton in Cumberland is a peculiar little place. It was rebuilt in 1806, after a curate at the end of the eighteenth century had written to the Bishop of Carlisle bemoaning its state, claiming:
“the villagers take their life in their hands by entering the building”.
It is April Fools’ Day, but I wonder if anyone can tell? There are so many fools about, and so many foolish opinions expressed, I wonder if we should dedicate 364 days to the Fool and reserve just one for the Wise.
Here is some April Foolery to whet your appetites before you watch the day’s news or speak to an average Briton:
"There is no God"
Celia Walden wrote an article in the Daily Telegraph this month about the former Archbishop of Canterbury who recently claimed that he has been seeing both a psychotherapist and a psychiatrist. She asks:
01282 540 562
pastor @ martintop. org .uk
Salem Chapel, Martin Top
near Rimington, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 4EG
Salem Congregational Chapel is a registered charity No. 252401 (England & Wales)
Sunday Worship 10.45am & 6.00pm