A HUNDRED years to the day since its first services, Normanby Methodist Church on Teesside celebrated its centenary on Tuesday. On both occasions, as on many others in Christianity's long history, a great public tea ensued.

The church prospers still - 130 adult members, umpteen organisations and a youth centre 50 yards down Cleveland Street. If it was groping in the dark for the column first to enter the youth centre, it was yet greater folly for a bald, slightly mournful looking gentleman to ask if we'd come for the WeightWatchers.

"Does it look like we need WeightWatchers?" we asked, in a manner intended to be cheerily rhetorical. The bald gentleman looked sadly away.

Up in the church, Ken Thwaites - cricketer, greyhound trainer, racehorse breeder and good Chapel man - was giving the most almighty what fettle to one of the finest organs in Methodism.

Mostly the overture was of hymn tunes, though briefly he broke to The Sunshine of Your Smile. Normanby sang quietly along; it was to be a smiling sort of evening.

The church, described in the Primitive Methodist World of November 15, 1900, as one of the prettiest village chapels in the district, had cost almost £1,000. Miss Selina Dorman was presented with a "beautiful gold key" for doing the honours, the Rev J O'Dell - president of the Primitive Methodist Conference - gave a sermon "full of spiritual power and rich thought".

The tea was a shilling, and doubtless worth every penny. The day's total proceeds were between £50-£60.

On the same day in 1900, The Northern Echo reported that Kaiser Bill was over his cold, that Hunwick's chief mole catcher had died at 79, Darlington tram fares were to remain a penny, HMS Superb was launched into the Tyne at Elswick and William James - "whose unkempt appearance made him look like an ancient Briton" - had been committed to 14 days at Stockton for sleeping rough at Moor Ironworks. Indignity upon imprisonment, the magistrate also ordered that he take a bath.

News of the church opening appears to have been left to the Primitive Methodist World, however, though The Echo did report that for leaving their horse and wagons unattended in Cleveland Street, Thos Lancaster of Lord Street and Thomas Akrigg of Pitch Street had themselves been hauled before Middlesbrough county police court.

Again the church was full, if not quite overflowing as of old. The Rev Stuart Burgess, a former president of the Methodist Conference, had plodged up from York to give the address, the Rev Bill Middlemiss - now superintendent minister of the Crook circuit - was back, tears in his eyes, in the chapel where he grew up. Bill had also played for the renowned Normanby Hall Cricket Club, batted for them in 1956 when for the first time they reached the Kerridge Cup final - "thumped" by Middlesbrough. "When people ask what I gave up to enter the ministry, I always say cricket," said Bill.

David Payne, the much loved present minister, read the bit from the PM World ("reporters were on the ball even then"), Stuart Burgess preached on a text from Proverbs about "Where there is no vision, the people perish" - a man who not so much talks with his hands as describes great geometric figures with them. We sang We Love the Place O God and Thy Hand, O God, Has Guided.

A message from the Rev Graham Carter, chairman of the far reaching Darlington District, urged them to move forward - "our roots and history are important, but if we keep looking backwards it will have the same disastrous results as digging up a plant to check how the roots are doing".

It was during the administration of communion that a steward pushed into our hand a message written on the back of a Cadbury's Dairy Milk wrapper. "Your photographer is here," it said. What are you meant to do, leap up and down saying "Cheese"?

They retired to the flag bedecked youth centre - a buoyant, friendly, enthusiastic crowd - for a veritable world championship among bun fights. Perhaps to avoid being led into temptation, the WeightWatchers had gone home. If not their will, it would certainly have broken their hearts. For the rest of us the tea was as the occasion, consumed with very great joy.

l A 48 page history has been produced to mark the centenary. Copies (minimum £2.50, plus postage) are available from the Rev David Payne at the church