Memories of Barney’s
As mentioned earlier St Barnabas Broadway burnt down last night and, for somewhere that I haven’t been to in 17 years, it surprises me how upset I am about it. I only attended Barney’s for a total of 3 years between 1987 and 1989 (unlike other people) when Robert Forsythe was the Rector. 3 years doesn’t seem like much but perhaps it is the fact that for those 3 years the community at Barney’s was my church home and I knew many people there. Perhaps also that those 3 years were a very important time in my life when I was at university.
I remeber the stained glass window mentioned in the news reports which I must have stared at for many hours over the 3 years whilst Robert and others taught the word of God to us. I remember the pipe organ where the organist used to get applause for the pieces played at the end of the service until he requested that people not applaud. I remeber many cups of tea in polystyrene cups consumed with biscuits at the back of the church whilst catching up with people. I remember my own brother being introduced to me by someone saying “Ben, do you know Peter” to which the immortal deadpan reply was “Yeah… he’s my brother actually”. I remember when they painted the church in brighter colors and found a mural behind the wood paneling at the front when they removed it. I remember sitting on the hard pews Sunday night after Sunday night.
I’m going to miss Barney’s, I really will.
