SALTASH Wesley Church welcomed Dr Leslie Griffiths, former President of the Methodist Conference on Sunday, November 21. He led the morning service, preached the sermon and in the evening preached again with Saltash Ladies Choir singing during the service. In the afternoon Dr Griffiths spoke to an audience and answered questions, chaired by Colin Breed MP. Dr Griffiths was recently made a member of the House of Lords and is one of the most prominent Ministers in Methodism. At the afternoon session Dr Griffiths spoke about his early childhood which saw his parents divorced when he was five years old. He explained that in those days it was very difficult as his mother was actually turned out on the street with her two young sons in 1947. Neighbours and friends took them in for some time until they were able to get a home, as that was a very hard winter. His mother had to work to provide for the two boys and herself. He described how people in the Methodist Church helped them and also helped him when he attended the Methodist Sunday school when he was at the Grammar school and that influence made him decide to eventually become a Methodist Minister. For many years he said, as a young boy, the three of them lived in just one room. He spent some years in Haiti and described how the people there had been so kind and helpful. He was elected President of the Methodist Conference in 1994 to 1995 and has often broadcast on the BBC. He has been the Minister of Hinde Street Methodist Church in London with the responsibility for the work of the West London Mission among homeless people, those who have drug or alcohol problems and other people. Now Lord Griffiths is the Minister of the historic Wesley's Chapel in City Road, London, its foundation stone was laid by John Wesley. The Rev Martyn Smith, Circuit Minister, welcomed Dr Griffiths and Will Sheaff gave the vote of thanks.
