Grosvenor Hall: A Song to Close...

The Grosvenor Hall congregation had its final service yesterday afternoon, marking 136 years of faithful worship and witness. The work of the wider Belfast Central Mission goes on however, and indeed, we will be gathering again in Grosvenor House on the second Sunday of next month to mark the beginning of the Annual Toy/Gift Appeal...

But back in June, after the decision had to close had been taken, I was out visiting some members of the congregation who hadn't been out for a few weeks, and after a fruitless attempt to visit two houses in a row I thought I would stop off in Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park and grab a coffee. It was a beautiful day and I had been listening to Eddi Reader singing Burns songs in the car, and as I sat in the sunshine the following song, set to the tune of "Ae Fond Kiss" sprang almost fully formed into my head.

At yesterday's emotional farewell, my two friends Jim Deeds and Diane Holt, sang these words as a benediction to those who had gathered:

One last time we meet together,
But farewell is not forever.
Deep in God's own heart united
We will never be divided

Now's the time to grieve what passes;
All our past seems turned to ashes.
But the hope of life still stirs us;
Dark despair shall not ensnare us.

Let’s not start to play the blame game.
Nothing here remains unchanging,
Save the love of God our Father,
Which endures and grows forever.

Had we never known each other,
Been to each sister and brother,
Only then without such loving
We'd avoid the pain of parting.

So we come to the last blessing,
What to say when words are failing?
Unto each be all Gods riches.
Peace and love and joy enfold us.

David A. Campton 2025

To the tune of “ Ae fond kiss”

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