Of the four major influences on my life the Methodist Church has been the longest but least.

Strangely, my earliest memory of the church was when I was a patient, aged four, in Birmingham Children's Hospital. In those far off, benighted, times parents were not allowed to visit their children in hospital. It was considered too upsetting: for whom was not stated. I spent my fourth and eighth birthdays there, but even on those days the most that was allowed - apparently - was for my parents to peer at me from behind a screen. Nowadays that whole attitude is absolutely unbelieveable.

But a complete stranger - the Minister - could come and go as he pleased! So I was visited by this man in a 'dog' collar. I hope he went and reported back to my parents. It must have been Mr Cole. When I had my second spell in hospital the same ridiculous policy was still in force, but when Mr Goddard came I knew who he was.

Mr Goddard was followed by the redoubtable Frank Harper. The church buildings rose from the ashes of the Second World War and stand to this day as a monument to his indefatigable ministry. They have even outlived the church itself. In old age, and by this time a widower, Frank lived at the Methodist Home for the Aged in Wolverhampton where he was visited by at least one of his former Washwood Heath flock.

Frank Harper was always going to be a hard act to follow, but we were lucky that the Revd. G Henry Dunford came our way. We now had the premises so he set about rebuilding the congregation. This he did patiently and with great conviction in an era when the church was beginning to lose its appeal to a rising generation. As it turned out his work only delayed the inevitable, but that should not detract from his success.

The men that followed him did not seem to have the same impact. The church managed (just) to celebrate its centenary but soon after closed its doors forever. It was nonetheless a case of a job well done.

Somebody once said that Methodism was born in song. Whether or not that was true there was a very strong musical tradition at Washwood Heath. They had a choir in which at least four of my aunts, and my mother, sang. But much more than that Methodism - as well as the Devil - had in my opinion the best tunes! If I try to choose my favourite hymn, no sooner have I done so than I think of another ... and another. My Methodist minister uncle, Sydney Freeman, once observed wryly that I seemed to like the 'rock and rolly' hymns. He may well have been right!

But judge for yourself. My favourite hymn is 'To God be the Glory, great things He hath done ...'. Then, in no particular order: And can it be, Guide me O Thou great Jehovah, Love divine, Old rugged cross, Count your blessings, How great Thou art, Rock of ages, Blessed assurance, Bread of Heaven, O for a thousand tongues, He lifted me, Crimond, It passeth knowledge, I need Thee every hour, Trust and obey, What a friend we have in Jesus ... and I haven't touched Christmas carols or Moody and Sankey!

Although the chapel is long gone its associated buildings, round the corner in Common Lane, have survived.

Now the property of Birmingham City Council they still serve the local community. Their creator - Frank Harper - would, I think, be pleased about that.

It would be nice to think that they might be named in his honour.