VOICES raised loud and clear in song this week for a special evening at Fairplace Church, Okehampton. On Sunday November 4, the church celebrated the tercentenary of Charles Wesley, one of the founders of the Methodist Church. Wesley wrote hundreds of hymns that are still in use today, 300 years after they were written. The adage, Methodism was born in song, was reinforced on Sunday evening with special songs of praise. Members of Fairplace Church, together with members of the large West Devon Methodist Circuit churches and Okehampton Choral Society, sang a selection of Wesley?s famous hymns including ?Love divine all loves excelling? and ?O for a thousand tongues to sing?. The event was led by the Rev Philip Wagstaff to a packed congregation. Musical accompaniment was provided by trumpeters Philip Makin and his pupil Matthew from Exeter and Valerie Berry, who played the timpani. John Holland directed the music from the organ. The readings about the hymns were prepared by the Rev Amos Cresswell and given by members of the church and district. Thanks were expressed to everyone who was involved.
