Canon Thrupp preaches at Ush

Ush Methodist Church welcomed the Rev’d Canon Hildebrand Thrupp of St Botolph’s, Whippleswick, on Sunday, under a pulpit exchange arranged in the spring. Rev’d Paul Thompson went the other way and reports a warm welcome, adding that he was finished by ten past eleven.

Canon Thrupp is preaching through the Song of Songs at his own church and had reached chapter four. He read it out in full, including the descriptions, and paused only to explain that the imagery is agricultural. Mrs Sylvia Ferris found the chapter warmer than she remembered it and put this down to the heating.

The sermon was in five parts, of which four were delivered. Cecil Hobday played the introduction to the closing hymn at twenty past eleven, and again at five to twelve. Doreen Pickles’ tea urn was put on for half past eleven and had to be boiled a second time before anyone reached it.

Nobody had a word to say against it. Mrs Freda Cattermole said she had never heard the subject covered so completely. Wilfred Stanhope called it a morning he would not forget in a hurry, and asked for the visit to be minuted. Mrs Vera Stubbins said the flowers were lovely.

Canon Thrupp has offered to come again, and to bring the fifth part. The church council will consider it at the October meeting, which is expected to be a short one.