Most of go about our day to day lives trying not to give too much thought to the fact that one day we won't be here. Time will move on and often as not leave us and our intentions behind. When the current building was put up we found that someone had buried a message to the future under the walls. We found a glass bottle with a newspaper and some other things dating from the construction of the Sunday school in 1896. We decided to continue this tradition. One of our local preachers Wendy, was given the difficult task of writing a letter to put in the new capsule. The congregation will be signing this over the next couple of weeks, so that should it be found by some future builders, they will know us and our intentions. Here is Wendy's letter:
"November 2018
To whoever finds this in the future, “Hello” from the congregation of Hope Methodist Church, Failsworth. You have found our time capsule!
This is the third time capsule to be buried on the site of this church. The first was buried when the original building was built in 1886 and was known as Failsworth Wesleyan Methodist. The original building was demolished in the 1990’s when a new building was erected, bringing together the congregations of Failsworth and Bethel Methodist churches to create Hope Methodist Church. During the building of the new church, the first time capsule was discovered. It was decided to create another time capsule which would continue the story of the Methodist church on this site. The second time capsule was buried before the opening of the new building in November 1991.
And so to this one, the one you have opened; Time Capsule 3! It contains documents and photos from the first two, with added information from the congregation in 2018. We have kept with paper and photos as we are well aware that any technology we have now could well be obsolete by time this is found, so would be useless to pass on information.
In 2018 the congregation consisted of members from two other Methodist churches, Culcheth Methodist and Holy Family. The prayers, thoughts, work and planning that had taken place over the previous 5 years came to fruition in 2018. Hope had embarked on a mission to be a church really serving the whole community. It had been growing since 2013, this had included raising our profile with new signage, better website and Facebook page, which started to attract people, and with the assistance of a project worker community groups began to find a place in Hope. Our existing Playgroup, Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Guides, Brownies, Rainbows groups were joined by a dementia support group - Making Space, Age UK Gentle Exercise class, Indoor bowling, Stitch and Natter, and Baby Bounce and Boogie.
However in order to be fully effective and develop further the building needed to be reconfigured and have a small extension. The transformation work began in October 2018. The groups that normally met in Hope having moved out in September to temporary homes in other churches and venues in the area. The congregation with friends at Roman Road Independent Methodist for our Sunday worship.
Getting this far has been a challenge, and we know we will face more, not the least of which is the need to still find the rest of the money to pay for the building work. We are stepping out in faith and prayer that no matter what the challenges, we will be the church we are called to be; a church in the community, and of the community, offering support and love. Living up to our name by giving hope. I guess you know whether we succeeded or not.
To those in the future, God Bless you.
From Hope Methodist Church."