mission hall
mission hall
Charles Street, Hull has turned into
a depression of broken window
shuttered shops –
no trace remains of the Pioneer Store
or the anonymous entrance
to the Fig Tree Gospel Hall
where bags of jumble sale left-overs
half-blocked the door
and a broad Yorkshire pig farmer –
stood sentry
keeping rowdy sinners out –
and backsliding brethren in
he shook each hand vigorously –
crushing first-timers’ knuckles
passing out hymnals
and King James Bibles
from a dusty varnished table
young ‘brothers’ in Burton suits and ties
vie to catch the eye of teenage ‘sisters’,
(each the image of their mothers) in
winter coats, crochet hats, and sensible shoes –
scattered amid the fold-up seating
as the Spirit moves, melting souls,
sighing ‘hallelujahs’ fill the hall,
Pastor Gardiner breaks the spell
calling for a testimonial
an unkempt beard and leather sandals,
dirty hair and unwashed jeans,
relates a tale of sordid debauchery,
’till Jesus came and rescued me’
Gideon Gardiner, beaming,
nods at the piano,
a matron thumps the keys,
the pastor joins in
bashing hell
out of a tambourine
the congregation demands
‘a thousand tongues to sing
their great redeemer’s praise’
then segues seamlessly into,
‘when the roll is called up yonder…’
the chorus ends, a silence settles
till the farmer re-ignites the praising,
‘if you’re happy and you know it…’
happy hands clap
happy feet stamp
flaky walls shake
floorboards bounce
next door
the ‘Beer Off’ owner
sighs for Monday.
© coolhermit 2023
Views: 678
Terrific atmosphere, Rick. The Burton suits struck a memory chord. Never bought one myself (bit too young), but it would seem so strange these days to think they were a teenage fashion accessory 60 years ago.
Great stuff as ever. 🙂
We used to hitch hike past the Burton factory in Goole – but now the M62 by-passes the town and last time I was on the bus the factory was defunct. The Fig Tree was redeveloped and transformed to corporate Christianity. I was the long haired youth mentioned in passing… moved on a bit since then though.
I kind of guessed it was you 😉
The pastor stood in front of and demanded, “Do you have a testimony? if so tell it!!” I was faced with an offer I could not refuse ha ha – Gideon Gardiner was an exceptional man – one of the few men of god I’ve ever met – real old skool. He died, the chapel was pulled down and the new place? Least said the better 🙁
I thought you’d be one of the young brothers!
The local church does a “Thank God it’s Sunday” once a month – they do a great breakfast – and the “happy hands” resonates with me. Leave with a happy halo sticker and the promise of angels in my dreams.
Bhi
I was only a blow-in – no church ever let me take ‘the right hand of fellowship’ – far too radical really. But I won’t go on about years of rejection from ‘the faithful’ ha ha 🙂