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Bricks and Mortar
| by Keith Miller |
| Background notes - On Boxing
Day of 2008, Hollington Methodist Church, the church in which I grew up
and which did a lot (for better or worse) to shape my character, was
gutted by fire. I visited the building about 3 days later. Even on a
sunny day, the inside of the chapel was totally dark - the electrics
were completely burnt out and the windows were blackened by smoke.
Standing in that burnt out shell, with the smell of soot still heavy in
the air, I felt a very strong sense of the history of that 150 year old
building. It was almost as if the prayers of generations had soaked
into the brickwork, and the scorching of the flames had allowed them to
come flooding out. It was then, and in that place, that the inspiration for this song came to me. |
I could take you to a building
You’ve likely seen it many times It doesn’t shout at passers by No flashing neon signs It very quietly stands where it has stood for many years It’s seen its share of laughter and it’s soaked up many tears (Chorus) This is the house of God, It is more than bricks and mortar It’s the place where I can feel His presence near It’s the place where I can taste the living water And if these stones could speak They’d tell you stories of the people who’ve met with Jesus here Every brick bears testimony to the Holy Spirit’s power Every window to God’s blessings multiplying hour by hour Every timber His protection and the strength that He provides Every nail a sharp reminder of a Saviour crucified Chorus Some folks will say it’s nothing but a relic of the past A symbol of the way things used to be But ask around the neighbourhood and very soon you’ll find Someone who says “it’s been a help to me ... and me ... and me” The road outside is busier than it ever was before Like the lives of all the people living just outside the door But the chapel waits there patiently, its message still the same A message of salvation if you trust in Jesus’ name Chorus Keith Miller |
| Copyright
notice. The copyright of this poem remains the property of the author, and it is reproduced here with his specific consent. The author will be happy to share his work for any non-profit purpose. This means that the poem may be read at a free event, or where any money raised is applied for charitable purposes. However, if you wish to publish this poem, either on paper or on a website, then you must seek written permission from the author in advance. This may be done via the contact page of this website. In all cases, the authorship and source of the poem must be clearly stated. |
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