Almost 200 people attended the first Civic Service to be held in Alderley Edge since 2003 on Sunday, May 15th.
The service at St. Philip and St. James Parish Church was led by the Vicar, Revd Jane Parry, Revd Ben Clowes from Alderley Edge Methodist Church and Sister Gerard from St. Pius Church. Readings were given by Councillor Matthew Lloyd and Councillor Frank Keegan and after the service guests were served coffee on the church lawn.
Revd Jane Parry said "This was a celebration of the life and work of the Alderley community with well loved hymns. A junior choir from Alderley Edge School for Girls sang the Blessing at the end of the service with their wonderful performance of a prayer to the tune of Eidleweiss."
The Civic Service provides an opportunity for the Parish Council to invite all the local dignitaries, senior police officers, members of other neighbouring town and parish councils and representatives of all the various local voluntary groups and churches to the service. It used to be an annual event in the village calendar but it fell in to decline in 2003 so this was the first Alderley Edge Civic Service to be held in 8 years.
The collection received will go to the Alderley Edge Civic Fund which is a hardship fund set up to assist, on a one-off basis, anyone living in exceptional hardship in the parish who needs money for a particular purpose.
Councillor Matthew Lloyd said "It was wonderful to see the Civic Service resurrected on Sunday, and a personal honour to represent to Parish Council at the service. I am sure this celebration of our community will go from strength to strength in the coming years and, through the Civic Fund, will help to support worthy causes within Alderley Edge.
"I would also like to thank the neighbouring parishes and the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress of Cheshire East for their support, which was greatly appreciated."
Photo by Mr Bob Tuffin: (l-r) Cllr Peter Coan & Cllr Jan Nicholson (Town Mayor and Mayoress of Knutsford), Cllr Melanie Connor (Alderley Edge Parish Councillor), Revd Jane Parry (Vicar of St. Philip and St. James Parish Church), Cllr Matthew Lloyd (Vice Chairman Alderley Edge Parish Council), Cllr Frank Keegan (Cheshire East & Alderley Edge Parish Councillor) and Cllr Roger West (newly appointed Mayor of Cheshire East Council).
