In 1893 my maternal great-grandfather helped build the Lynn Grove Methodist that was rebuilt in 1948 by my grandfather in conjunction with other congregants.
Austin Cut Stone endows the exterior of the sanctuary. The pulpit built by my great-grandfather remains impervious to time’s wear. Behind the pulpit an embellished stained glass window of Jesus walking on water pointing heavenward attests to God’s glory while below etched on a bronze plate the names of three soldiers lost to the community during WW II reflect the frailty of man.
Grandfather became Superintendent of the Sunday School when he was 18-years old and continued in that capacity until shortly before his death at the age of 86. A life-long learner open to all ideas and a social liberal, he remained a steadfast Methodist who insisted that God’s grace acts on man to prepare him to receive repentant grace and rejected any theology that did not make man’s actions central.
While time eventually erodes all exteriors well-founded convictions can remain resolute.