50 Years of Cotham Parish Church - A Poem by David Johnson

50 years ago,

After that summer of searing heat,

Of ladybird swarms

And a Minister for Drought

When women priests

Were a dream for the future

After a spring of heated debate

Between  high church and  low

Came the marriage

Of two congregations

Each used to their own way of worship

Now commanded to live as one church

Under the roof of an empty old building

St. Mary's so high

St. Saviour's so mainstream

The bells and the smells

And King James’ language

Vying with the ordinary

and the vernacular

A story of incense and the incensed

And some wondering could it ever make sense

Priests we have had a few

From Geoffrey to Neville,

Paul, Richard and David

Each with their own talents and quirks

And curates we’ve had even more

Geoff, Simon and Jennifer ,

Ginny then Pippa, now Becky and Adrian

Plus Andy, Foundation and its iterations

In addition, we have always been blessed

With our many and varied lay saints

Each with their own particular gifts

Each with their own vision for Cotham

And yet somehow we thrived and we  grew

Today Cotham Church is re-ordered

The wooden West doors are flung wide

To let in the dawn and welcome the world

This space reimagined for children, for music,

For prayer and reflection, inclusive for all

And now we stand ready for 50 years more

As a loud cry goes up Encore! Encore!

Written by David C Johnson ©August 2026