Joan McGavin looks at how the hymnwriter’s place of birth marked his 350th throughout last year

Last year was the 350th anniversary of the birth of Isaac Watts in Southampton, and a number of events, long in the planning, took place. The two main ones were an open-air service in late June to rededicate the statue of Watts in Watts Park in the city centre, and a ‘Watts Weekend’ with a study day and a special Sunday service at Avenue St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, in November. These were successful occasions, with about 130 people turning up for the open-air event and more than 70 for the service on 24 November….

Joan McGavin is an Elder at Avenue St Andrew’s URC and a published poet

Copies of the Isaac Watts booklet can be obtained by contacting Joan McGavin at mcgavinjoan@gmail.com

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This is an extract from an article published in the Issue 1 – 2025 edition of Reform

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