Weekly update – 25th August 2024
Underneath the large cross on the wall at the front of church is a small stone plaque (pictured left) which is inscribed with the date when the church was consecrated in 1975 by the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Donald Coggan. On the 12th July 1975 to be precise. So next year is the 50th anniversary of the current church being consecrated. The PCC are planning to mark the occasion with a celebration of some form and details will follow in due course.
There are a few people in the parish who will remember the fundraising and the building project that led up to the consecration of the church we have now. Many people will recall the various re-ordering projects that have transformed our worship space since then.
Possibly, there are people in the parish who can remember worship prior to 1975, when services were held in what is now the Main Hall. Or even before that, when St Laurence Church, at the bottom of Castle Road, was open for worship.
Of course, it is more than being about the building, people will have memories of parish life, mission and events over the last fifty years and the years previous as well.
These three buildings and the memories of parish life associated with them, stand as a testament to the journey so far of our Christian community here in Allington. Our history if you like. Each move from one building to another, each re-ordering project, or each event was due to people responding to God’s call and will at the time. Each project brought about through people’s faith and service to God.
I recently read a reflection on 2 Samuel 7, which echoed this sense of God’s call and promise throughout the years. King David had made up his mind to build a temple for God, but is told by a prophet, Nathan, this is not God’s will for David but for David’s son, Solomon, to put that plan into action. David must accept that God’s promises and plans extend for future generations. David is just part of the jigsaw. So, David prays a thanksgiving prayer for all that God has provided to him and his ancestors, and for the promises for the future generations.
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary next year, it will be a time of thanksgiving to God for everything that has been provided to us and thanksgiving for the people who responded to God’s call over the years. Equally important, it will be a time to look to God’s promises for our future journey of faith and mission.
It will provide an opportunity to reflect on where we have seen God at work in our lives and in the parish, and to prayerfully reflect on where we are being called so we can go forward confidently in our vision and mission for the future.
Nigel.
Churchwarden.
