Mystery Worshipper: Frollo
Church:
Emmanuel, Wimbledon
Location: London, England
Date of visit: Sunday, 21 July 2024, 10:30am
The building
Wimbledon abounds in red brick church construction from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. This one, dating from 1888, is a take on 13th century style. The rather shallow chancel opens onto a large nave with a clerestory supported on rather attractive slender cast iron columns. A large transept to the south, with a smaller one to the north, coupled with a modern mezzanine structure to the rear of the nave, make the church appear almost square once you're inside it. Under said mezzanine is the welcome area, with office space and serving area for refreshments. The west end has a slender tower, topped with a timber campanile-style gallery and a four-faced clock.
The church
Emmanuel was originally one of the area plants from the stem of St Mary's, Wimbledon. It is considered locally to be bedded in the conservative evangelical tradition, and because of its complementarian convicitons, and issues with the diocese of Southwark in which it exists, it is overseen by the 'flying' Bishop of Ebbsfleet. The church has four age-appropriate Christian learning groups for under 18s as well as several for adults, and is home to Japanese church services once a month. The church also supports several mission teams working and planting abroad. Emmanuel was at the centre of a significant historical safeguarding failure starting from the 1980s, which still resonates, although the church itself has completely rebuilt. Ten days before the service, the church posted a notice on its website to say that its former minister, Jonathan Fletcher, was being ‘prosecuted for a number of historical offences against an adult’.
The neighborhood
Wimbledon Village is a vibrant and diverse hilltop suburb of South London. On a sunny Sunday morning the path to Emmanuel is paved with well-patronised cafes spilling out onto the high street, delicatessens and the most up-market of charity shops. On the weekend of this visit, the atmosphere was filled with post-event celebration of a lucrative Wimbledon tennis fortnight; the Village returning to its normal inhabitants with a collective sigh of relief.
The cast
The senior minister officiated; the associate minister preached.
What was the name of the service?
10:30 Service. I didn’t know it was to be a communion service; it wasn't trailed as such on the church website. So it was only at the entrance that I discovered notice of the Lord's Supper.How full was the building?
The space looked well-filled, but still comfortably spaced. 170 plus, with room for 50 more. This thinned out quite a lot when the many younger members left for their group activities after the second song.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
I arrived a good half hour before the service, and experienced one of the most refreshing welcomes in a long time at a new church. Almost nobody was yet there, and the music group was rehearsing in the background. I was welcomed by a very smiling woman who introduced herself and made a) me coffee and b) involved and intelligent conversation. She listened as well, inviting any questions I might have and bringing over other members of the congregation as they arrived to make me feel a part of the church gathering. As the place filled up and service time approached, she recommended a suitable place to sit ‘where you can see everything that’s going on.’ Once seated, my neighbours introduced themselves and brought me into their church.
Was your pew comfortable?
It was quite comfortable, with a long cushion running its whole length. The church has conventional wooden pews in the nave, while the transepts have more modern, upholstered chairs. The pews themselves look to be original, judging by their much-repaired and sometimes slightly dilapidated condition. They appear to have been kept beyond the point at which many other churches would have flung them in a skip. I'd like to think it’s because they are loved.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
From about 15 minutes before the service, the church began to hum with increasing conversation. Much greeting, lots of families with Sunday-best-behaved children. Above the music group, two big screens carried repeating projections of the service title (with celebrant and preacher listed) and a running order. I found this particularly helpful as a newbie, allowing a mental picture of what to expect and prepare for.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
‘Welcome, everyone. When someone returns you evil for good, how will you respond?’ (This turned out to be a teaser for the reading and sermon.)
What books did the congregation use during the service?
Everything service-related was projected on the big screens. The pew bibles were English Standard Version.
What musical instruments were played?
I was informed afterwards that the music group was about half its normal complement. Guitar/bass guitar (with the same player), piano and, for the finale, organ. A female lead singer, with backing vocals by the pianist. The songs were well performed, clearly known and liked by the congregation, who sang along with confidence and some volume. The last, great Wesley hymn, ‘And can it be...?’ was absolutely given laldy, with male counterpoint and harmony in plenty – as it should be.
Did anything distract you?
Above our heads, and partially concealed by strings of LED lanterns, was an intriguing run of heating ducts. Being easily distracted, I spent several minutes trying to trace their pattern and function – this would probably have been simpler (and less absorbing) in winter with the heating in operation. That, and working out where the organ was speaking from.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
Anticipating fairly full-on happy-clappy, I was wrong-footed. Not a hand was raised aloft during the singing, even during the second, pre-youth exit song. Attentive silence was kept during all the spoken parts of the service, except for the ‘words in bold’. Communion was interesting and (to me) novel. We remained seated; the bread – seeded wholemeal pre-broken into chunks – was distributed on platters, passed like a collection plate along the pew rows, then taken and eaten individually. The wine was similarly distributed, with the additional option of drinking from a common cup or from little individual beakers, Baptist-style. This left the celebrant, having voiced the invitation to everyone rather than to individual communicants, rather conspicuously hanging about with nothing to do. I was intrigued by the characterisation of those who might not wish to partake: ‘If you’re not yet trusting Christ as your Saviour.’
Exactly how long was the sermon?
28 minutes (split into two parts).
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
4 — Matter of fact, passion- and drama-free. A read exegesis, largely side-stepping nuance and moral complexities within the text. We also fell into one of my pet exegesis faux pas: verse-by-verse re-rendering, and not as well read as the first time round. Nothing to see here that you couldn’t find in a half-way decent study Bible. As the key ‘takeaways’ (hashtagged below) came up, they were displayed on the screens and remained there to benefit the distracted. Would that every preacher had this visual aid.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?
The text was 1 Samuel 25 (yes, the whole of it), which was very well read. In summary: the prophet Samuel is dead. Who is to replace him to speak God’s words into dark Israel’s history. There is no guarantee of godliness, but God wonderfully intervenes. We have to welcome God’s intervention, which requires our humility.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
The committed confidence with which worship was sung; the welcome and instant fellowship offered.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
There was no Gospel, read or preached. It was implicit in the communion liturgy, yes, and represented in song – but still and all, if you're Evangelical...
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
Several people, including my original welcomer, chatted with me in the coffee queue and over refreshments. I also had a longish conversation with the guitarist about the music, which was a good opportunity to say how much I’d appreciated it.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
Good filter coffee in a real mug, with plenty of partakers.
How would you feel about making another visit (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
8 — I think I struck lucky. I didn’t know it was to be a communion service; it wasn't trailed as such on the church’s website. So it was only at the entrance that I discovered notice of the Lord’s Supper. It would be interesting to attend a more ‘ordinary’ service.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes. Glad and refreshed.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time ?
The confidence of Christian worship.