Bitterne Park United Reform Church

Apols for the severe delay, I've had a terribly busy week and felt pretty rubbish. Sorry.

Bitterne Park United Reform Church
Cobden Avenue,
Bitterne Park,
SO18 1FZ

10:30 Morning service, Mothering Sunday.

No website from which to give a self description, nor is anything said of it on the URC national site, save the address and contact details.

The Review
Before I start I should point out that as this is/was Mothering Sunday the service was slightly out of the ordinary. As most churches get extra people, they tend to try to do something a little unusual, to attempt to get them to come more often.

We arrived at the church at 10:29 by by watch, but clearly late by their time as the service had begun. We were greeted in the lobby by a church elder, who handed over a copy of Mission Praise and a service sheet, while explaining that the service had just begun and we could go in when the first hymn began shortly. This was a first for both myself and the older one, but made surprising sense as we were not the only late arrivals. We all walked in as the first hymn (Bind us together Lord) began, and didn't disturb anyone.

There were at least sixty people, a lot of whom were older. There were a few families, but no young adults that we could see. The Building was another Victorian barn in style (though I've no idea how old the building actually is), with huge wooden beams and again nicely decorated. The church is cross shaped with altar, organ, pulpit, etc. in the top of the cross, the left hand side containing the music group and the right a small side chapel. The service sheet contained the order of service for the morning and evening services. (Apparently the evening service, 18:30, is more informal, and fortnightly.) There were also prayer requests, thanks to the musicians and flower arrangers, and a brief explanation of this weeks services and next. Mission praise is a popular hymn book, containing a huge variety of hymns of all ages and styles.

The Music for the service was lead by the youth music group, a selection of children and teenagers, of varied ability, but over all quite good for a youth music group. After the hymn was a short time of prayer, then a reading for Isaiah, followed by a short “explanation” of Mothering Sunday. After this every lady in the congregation was given a small bunch of daffodils, which seemed a major impovment on the usual very short lonely daffodil and a bit of old heather combo we were anticipating. The service continued with a pattern of hymn then short talk, including a reading from Ephesians 6:1-4). The talks were interesting and amusing and the minister seemed to know his congrgation very well, personalising the ancedotes to suit. The music was quite good; 'Make me a Channel of Your peace', 'Come let us sing', 'Come on and celebrate', 'Lord, the light of Your love (Shine Jesus, Shine.)'. The grace was said at the end, then the service ended.

We were spoken to by two of the church "elders" one of whom was rather talkative and we spoke for some time, explaining about the church, the evening services and how it was a little unusual this week, being Mothering Sunday.This probably explains why it felt a little bland as it was trying to appeal to a wide range of people. We spoke to the minister on the way out, who was rather busy, presumably the extra congregation for the day, but he was friendly and interested and invited us back. The older one found it interesting how people didn't seem to linger after the service, but rather rushed out the door. This could be attributed to people going home to Mother's Day lunches, but other churches we've been to on Mothering Sundays still had coffee after the service.

Traditional/Modern: The setting was a "proper" traditional church, and the songs were definitely hymns, but not that traditional.
Formal/Informal: No real liturgy, except the odd snippet of prayer with responses and the atmosphere was fairly relaxed.
Solemn/Lively: So-so, the talky bits were fairly cheerful and lively, the songs less so.

Great: Minister seemed to know everyone, and was friendly. The mini-sermons were very very entertaining

Not so great: Hard to say, as was not a usual service. However, the service was very middle of everything. Somehow, not that exciting, though its hard to put a finger on what was lacking.

Access: Steps to the front door, but we believe there was a side entrance.

This review was written by the Younger with edits by the older one.