Memories

The old church was always expected to be a temporary building, to be replaced by our permanent church. In the foreground, of the photo above, the footings for the new church are being dug. Some of the church members have recorded their past memories below.

Martin shared that the original church tower was for decoration and was not used for bell ringing. He also kept his horses in a field near the church.

Martin’s said that his father, who from his memory, instigated, canvassed and led the Planned Giving Campaign along with others all those years ago, for the church’s extension to the new church

Brian remembers that the old church, had all the advantages and disadvantages of a multi-purpose building. It spoke to community as everyone’s space, whether a church-goer or not. Those who danced, danced in front of a curtain behind which was the holy space of the altar. Someone, and not infrequently, the Vicar/Priest in Charge Harold Willis, had to clean up after the dance before the Sunday morning early service. In terms of physical inheritance, we should remember the huge investment in giving us a stage where the altar was. We should not lightly abandon that hugely important resource. Interesting that we entered the original church from the opposite side to the current entrance: the same geography as the entrance to the North Annex proposed for the present church.

Margaret saw the first church as a young child and remembers the building and services fondly.

Carol felt the church was a place of respect. The children were included in many activities. When you closed the hatch of the kitchen it became a church. There were many community plays and they were well received. The curtains could be closed to keep the weather out. When the new curtains came there was a buzz of excitement.

The different parts of the community used the separate parts of the building. The Guides used to use the church. This was all done with just two toilets.