AN OLD CHURCH AT CULLYBACKEY

Farewell ye age encrusted walls!
Farewell ye consecrated halls!
Where Presbyt’ry once had its home,
And Methodism now rears its dome.
Where pious hearts old pathways trod
In use and wont to worship God.
Now through the years unnumbered dim
They each exhort with prayer and hymn
Where Presbyt’ry once held so dear,
Lit up our feet with lamp so clear
And shed her rays, bright and benign
Through ways where pitfalls oft entwine,
And on throughout those years so fleet
Helped both to guide our laggard feet
And trained us to our lasting good
In paths of virtuous brotherhood.
‘Ware well ye walls, twice hallowed shrine,
Where Presbyt’ry gave her light divine,
Religion cast her wondrous spell
Farewell, a sad and fond farewell!

All hail old faiths in a new light,
God grant fresh faith with new insight
All hail new lights and Methodism
God grant new life and grace and chrism.

J. Townsley, Kilchattan Bay, Bute 9th December 1922