On Sunday the church held its Anniversary Service celebrating the date in March 1956 when the church was reopened after the extensive renovations which followed considerable damage during the Second World War.

The service was in three parts, Giving thanks for the past; Acknowledging the present and Trust for the future’. Ven Collins showed the congregation the symbolic key that had opened the church in 1956 for a celebration service attended by over 600. He shared some of the wonderful words that had been spoken on that memorable occasion.

During the service several members of the congregation shared what it means to them to be part of the church family. Students, new to the area, described the warm welcome they had found and senior members shared the importance that membership had been in their lives. Kevin Hosking, booking secretary, acknowledged the wide variety of community groups who use the Methodist premises, many of them regarding the church as their home. A Pop Up Choir, led by June Martin sang “There’s a Spirit in the Air’ and then the candles on a large birthday cake were blown out by the youngest and oldest members present. The final part of the service led us into Trust for the Future and during a talk by Deacon Michelle Legumi the congregation sang the words “We’ll praise Him for all that is past, and trust Him for all that is to come”.

Everyone present wrote a response to the service on paper footprints and these were laid around the church to remind us of our calling to follow the footsteps of Jesus. During the final hymn the young people of the church displayed a paper chain they had made in three colours to symbolise the linking of the past, present and future. Following the service over 70 members of the church family continued the celebration as they joined together for a splendid lunch held in the Wesley Hall.