Farnham and Alton Methodist Circuit

Circuit News Items

In the best traditions of Methodism with its system of itinerancy for its ministers, the Farnham & Alton Circuit now has a new minister with the arrival of Probationer Rev Vida Foday.

Vida was officially but warmly welcomed at a service in Farnham Methodist Church on 1st September 2008. The service was led by Circuit Superintendant Rev Keith Underhill and the sermon was preached by District Chair for the London South-East District Rev John Hellyer. Other Farnham ministers were present including the Rector of Farnham, Rev Andrew Tuck and the minister of Farnham United Reformed Church, Rev Michael Hopkins. Greetings were given by Mrs Gillian Beal, Mayor of Farnham and Brian Kurton of the Farnham Christian Community Trust.

Posted Monday, 01 September, 2008

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God Speed You, Malcolm and Jill!

On 20th July, Methodists from across the circuit bade an emotional farewell to their Minister, Rev Malcolm Groom, and his wife Jill. At a special party and farewell service at Farnham Methodist Church, there were many thanks and tributes made to the Grooms. Rev Keith Underhill, Superintendent Minister, spoke warmly of the caring ministry that has been exercised by Malcolm Groom, particularly in the Farnham, Hale & Rowledge Churches for which Malcolm had direct responsibility, and the very active involvement of Jill Groom in church life.

In addition to the three Farnham Methodist churches, there were many present from Alton Methodist Church and Farnham URC, including Rev Michael Hopkins, who expressed the thanks and gratitude of the URC congregation with whom the Farnham Methodist Church has continual close contact.

Rev Michael Hopkins gave Malcolm the gift of an art book from the URC and Mrs Christine Stevens, the Circuit Treasurer, presented a gift from the circuit congregations.

It is eight short years since Malcolm Groom arrived in Farnham to take responsibility for the three Methodist churches in Farnham, Rowledge and Hale. It has been a very happy period with growth in church activities, improvement of premises and good supportive pastoral care in the community. Malcolm arrived in 2000 from Littlehampton and will now move on, in the tradition of the itinerancy of Methodist ministers, to his next appointment as Superintendent Minister in Fareham and Gosport.

Having recently undergone heart surgery, it was gratifying to find Malcolm in buoyant and energetic mode, sad to be leaving but well prepared and keyed up for his challenging new appointment. He thanked everyone for the wonderful support from the membership and reassured the packed church that he hoped to see everyone again in future times and looked forward to being invited back for special occasions.

Some Photos of the Event

Most photos can be clicked to enlarge them

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Service of Admission of Local Preachers,

Kathy Johnson, Pam Jones, Brenda Wimbush

Click photos to enlarge

All the preachers of our circuit.

22 June, 2008

Members of the congregations from the whole circuit as well as family and friends of Brenda, Kathy and Pam gathered for this service at Farnham Methodist Church at 6.30 pm on Sunday 22nd June. Revd Malcolm Groom, back in the pulpit after a short time in hospital, preached ‘The Charge’. His address, mainly to Brenda, Kathy and Pam at the start of their ministry as fully accredited Local Preachers (although each of them has been preaching throughout the Faith and Worship Course), but also to us all was about what preaching is. Malcolm ended by quoting some words he recalled from his old school hymn:

Thou must be true thyself

If thou the truth wouldst teach.

Thy soul must overflow if thou

Another soul would reach:

It needs the overflow of heart

To give the lips full speech.

Think truly, and thy thought

Shall the world’s family feed.

Speak truly, and thy word

Shall be a fruitful seed.

Live truly, and thy life shall be

A good and noble creed.

Horatio Bonar

Brenda, Kathy and Pam were asked to choose a hymn each and Kathy chose ‘In Christ Alone, My Hope is found’, Brenda chose ‘I Want to Serve the Purpose of God in My Generation’, Pam chose ‘Go Peaceful, In Gentleness’. Each received a Bible that they had chosen to mark the occasion and letters from Martyn Atkins (President of the Methodist Conference) and Joy Barrow (Connexional Secretary for Local Preachers). Pam Harding also received a certificate in recognition of 10 years as a Local Preacher.

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Introducing the Rev Vida Foday

In August this year, our new Probationer Minister, Revd Vida Foday, will be joining our Circuit to work with and alongside us. Vida will officially start work on September 1st. Keith Underhill our Superintendent Minister asked Vida if she would like to write something about herself for our newsletters and Circuit website. This is what Vida has written:

I am a widow with three children namely Sahr Koby, Tamba Ekow Jnr and Maota Ewurabena Foday.  I also have two step-children namely Mrs Sia Iscandari and Tamba Foday Snr. We all live in London.

Sia, a Bank Manager, is married to Katib Iscandari and they have a daughter, Zaida. Tamba Snr, a Graphic designer, is married to Ollie with a daughter and a son, Neshamah and Shecharyah. Sahr works as a Marketer and Web designer. Tamba Jnr is an IT consultant, and Maota is in her final year at Roehampton University studying Drama and Psychology (major). She is hoping to move to Farnham with me and apply for a job there. She is with the Alluminae Dance Group and teaches street dancing (part-time) at Watermans Theatre, which is sponsored by the London Borough of Hounslow. We are all British citizens but I originally come from Ghana, and my husband came from Sierra Leone. I lived and worked in Sierra Leone for a few years. I have lived in the United Kingdom for over 20 years. My husband had an international job as the Liaison Officer for Africa with the Miners International Federation (MIF). His work involved travelling around the mining areas of Africa and around the world. Over 20 years ago, we took a decision for me to stay here in London, where the headquarters of MIF used to be, mainly because our children’s education was being affected by the constant move that his job required of him. On his retirement, he developed kidney disease, and was on haemodialysis until his death on the 22nd of December 2002. His body was taken home to Sierra Leone, and was buried in Freetown in January 2003, according to his wishes.

I come from a family with strong Christian background. Three of my uncles were Methodist ministers, my father was a class leader and my mother was a choir member. I was a member of the Girls Life Brigade in Bethel Methodist Church, Takoradi, Ghana, where I grew up. I later joined the choir and was also very active in the Youth club performing plays in the church during special occasions. I have three older sisters Elizabeth, Edith and Irene and two younger ones, Evelyn and Georgina. My parents, Mr and Mrs Grant-Acquah, are deceased. I had my calling at a time when I was going through a difficult period, with a sick husband at the time and while mourning the death of my mother and two of her sisters, all in the space of three months. However, I heeded to God’s call and with the help and nurturing of my minister at the time, Rev. Kevin White of the Chiswick Methodist Church, Rev. Veronica Faulks, my local preaching tutor, and Mrs Mary Ludlow, my mentor, I went through the Faith and Worship course and was accredited as a local preacher in June 2003. I have held several positions in the Church for example, a steward, church secretary, Synod Representative, and also organised summer international events and Café worship.

I have worked as Personal Assistant to the Sierra Leone High Commissioner to Nigeria. I have worked as a medical and legal secretary in London. I attended the Thames Valley University where I pursued an applied diploma course in French and German translation. I was a Senior Medical Secretary in Ophthalmology at the West Middlesex University Hospital, a position I held for over 10 years prior to my theological training. I had my Foundation Training (part-time) at the University of Kent through the South East Institute for Theological Education (SEITE) prior to studying at Wesley House, Cambridge, where I am now pursuing a degree in Christian Theology. I am in my second year at Cambridge and hope to complete my degree while in circuit.

I am a down-to-earth person, ready to learn and also share the gifts I have acquired through my training with everyone. My initial priorities at Farnham, Rowledge and Hale will be to encourage people within the churches and local community to develop and deepen their faith in God, to assist individuals in sharing that faith in a way that draws other people to God, and to provide pastoral support to the three congregations.

We assure Vida and all her family of our love, prayers and support as she prepares for this new chapter in her life and ministry, and look forward to getting to know her and all the family later on in the year. Vida’s welcome service will be held on Monday 1st September at Farnham Methodist Church beginning at 7:45pm.

Posted Monday, 18 February, 2008

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