On the weekend of the 19 - 20 July 2025 the President, the Revd Richard Andrew and Vice President, Matthew Forsyth, arrived in the Dorset South and West Circuit, for the Tolpuddle Festival weekend.
Engaging with the presidential theme ‘Our Story, Our Song’ on our market stall on the Festival site, we asked the question “What’s the link between the Church and the Martyrs?”
As thousands of people gathered for a varied programme of debate, activism, music and speeches, many people stopped and spoke to the team, inquisitive about why the Methodist Church was present. We were able to share the story of solidarity, hope, and trust in God, of Methodist labourers seeking justice, singing a song with ‘God as our guide’.
On a typically sunny Saturday, the presidential party walked in the footsteps of ‘the martyrs’, visiting the great sycamore tree at the centre of village (the place where ‘the martyrs’ first met to pledge to work together, seeking fair wages for their co-workers).
Passing the Martyrs' Cottage, where descendent of the Martyrs would have lived, we visited ‘The Old Chapel’ (the place where ‘the martyrs’ and their families would have worshipped).
This year they also had a display of clothing from the era, showing the remarkably ‘simple’ attire of a Farm labourer compared to grandeur of the Landowners outdoor wear. The President and Vice President could see the parallels of the work that continues for the ‘The Old Chapel Trust’ in telling the story of Martyrs, providing a community space, and the Methodist Church's song of living out its calling to be a justice seeking church.
Later that day, along with the Southampton District Chair (the Revd Rachel Bending), the President and Vice President adventured to Portland, to see the building at Easton Methodist Church as the community there continues a massive restoration project. Importantly though, this was an opportunity to share about the wonderful work happening to serve the community, through an amazing Food Larder Project.
Richard and Matthew also heard stories of the many ways the church reaches out to its local community through Parent & Toddler Group, Messy Church, Café mornings. Richard encouraged the Food Larder team to share the story of how the project started and listened to stories of lives blessed and changed by being able to get affordable food, that otherwise would be sent to landfill.
Matthew encouraged them to share the story of the people and families served by the project to both the Church and wider community, to sing the song of God’s love through hospitality, conversation, and care.
On the Sunday morning we begun the day gathered with the Right Revd Karen Gorham (Bishop of Sherborne) and the Revd Sarah Hillman (Vicar of Tolpuddle) at St John’s the Evangelist Anglican Church, for the festival songs of praise service.
Bishop Karen in her address challenged us, when preaching on the powerful story of Mary and Martha, to be ‘dedicated to serving the needs of our neighbours’, reminding us ‘we are called first to pray.’ After touring parts of the Festival site, the President offered a word and prayer of blessing for a new banner, used later in the day to march behind, for the South-West Branch of the Unite Union.
Following this we then gathered to remember the sacrifice of freedom of ‘the martyrs’, as the President and Vice President laid a wreath on the grave of James Hammett.
Richard spoke powerfully of the rich history the Methodist Church has of seeking justice for people from all parts of society, and our determination to continue to walk alongside those seeking justice, just at the Martyrs did with ‘God as their guide’.
At the end of the weekend, the Circuit held a special service of thanksgiving for the festival, in the Methodist ‘new’ chapel in Tolpuddle. The Revd John Yarrien (Circuit Superintendent) led the service, with prayers from Matthew Forsyth the Vice President and readings from Rachel Bending (District Chair) and ecumenical colleagues.
The President, preached from Matthew 20, the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Richard explored with us the truth that God’s justice goes far beyond what we might expect, suggesting powerfully that ‘justice is the social expression of love’.
Richard used the translation of Martyr’s as “witnesses”, to reframe the group of six as the Tolpuddle Witnesses, helping us to frame an important and challenging question “what is God calling us to witness to in our world now?”
Listening to Richard I wondered, as we stand in solidarity with the Tolpuddle witnesses, what is the story we see and hear in God’s kingdom today? What’s the story of solidarity in your community, and what song is God planting on your hearts to share his love in an unjust world.
At the end of the service, we took the opportunity to pray for the President and Vice President, presenting them with a Tolpuddle Methodist T-Shirt and Festival Bear, as they embark on their onward journey of discovering our inclusive, growing, evangelistic and justice seeking church, with God as their Guide.
