Fore Street Topsham, Exeter

Reverend Paul Collings BTh (Hons) - - - - paul.collings@methodist.org.uk - - - - 01392 206229 - - - - 07941 880768

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Saturday, 15 August 2020

Around the City - thoughts on Exeter’s pas 8

 Mols Cafe by Rev’d Paul Collings 

The tradition that this build as Mol's Coffee House appears to have been a romantic construction by a late 19th early 20th century owner, a Mr Worth? Research has shown that it was an built for Ecclesiastical use.

The building, along with Hanson's, next door, was built by the Cathedral Authorities to house 'Annuellars', or priests. Annuellars attended to the last wishes of benefactors to the Cathedral. They would conduct duties requested by the deceased, visit and comfort relatives and keep a candle lit in remembrance. It was during the Reformation of the 1540's that these practices were banned and the buildings housing the priests were taken over for other purposes.


Isaiah 56:7 “These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”


The house of prayer stands there four square,

A place of lasting gracious care;

To comfort, ease each grieving heart,

Where once love lived though now apart.


There chaplain priests, would hold each year

A time to render through their prayer

A lasting memory of lives at rest,

To kindle candles there to bless.


Lord, how to hold within a prayer

A lasting memory that bears

The hallmarks of your humble care

And reach another’s deep despair.


Your word declares each honest prayer,

From one who by faith’s gift repairs 

An inner righteous truthfulness,

That mirrors your own tenderness.


O that through grace I may, Dear Lord,

Pray from pure heart words that accord

With your just will and there unfold

Your perfect purpose to behold. 


“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.” ― Soren Kierkegaard


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