Fore Street Topsham, Exeter

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

About Us

We are a community of faith seeking to discover the face of Jesus Christ in our Church, in our Community and in our Commitment.

Tuesday 18 August 2020

Around the City - thoughts on Exeter’s past 11

The Pharmacy by Rev’d Paul Collings 

The building that houses the present Laura Ashley, at 41 and 42 High Street, was for many years the premises of Hinton Lake, the chemists. The building, largely dating from 1564 was called the Mansion House up until 1740.


And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: Exodus 30:35


There Hinton Lake’s the chemist store,

Long had it’s high street’s opened door,

Offering it’s wares, a cure to ease

From pain, an ailment, or disease.


Apothecary skills applied

With careful measures there supplied

Each patient’s own prescriptive needs,

Renewing health, their cure to speed.


From ancient times, right to this day,

Prescriber’s art has been displayed

As with physician’s practiced skills

They join, unite to banish ills.


You call us too to emulate

Such given skills  and to relate,

A tempered balm, holy and pure,

An answer here, a lasting cure.


O great physician, draw me near,

That I may too share in the cure

Of saving grace, of that welfare,

That wills our freedom through your care.


“IN THE OUR HANDS (adapted) by Suzy Kassem 


The one who creates a poison, also has the cure.

The one who creates a virus, also has the antidote.

The one who creates chaos, also has the ability to create peace.

The one who sparks hate, also has the ability to transform it to love.

The one  who creates misery, also has the ability to destroy it with kindness.

The one who creates sadness, also has the ability to to covert it to happiness.

The one who creates darkness, can also be awakened to produce illumination.

The one who spreads fear, can also be shaken to spread comfort.

Any problems created by the left hand,

Can also be solved with the right,

For the one who manifests anything,

Also has the ability to

Destroy it.” 


No comments: