This year marks the 150th Anniversary of the building of a methodist church in Alderley Edge.
To celebrate this milestone year, Alderley Edge Methodist Church has a week of special events planned to which everyone is invited.
Celebrations have been ongoing throughout the year but the month of June is particularly significant to the church and Tuesday 18th June is the day they acknowledge to be the anniversary day itself.
On Sunday 16th June, starting at 11am, Morning Worship will be led by Rev. Richard Byass, the minister who preceded the current minister, Rev. Ben Clowes. Richard and his wife, Becca, along with their children Elizabeth and Felicity will visit Alderley Edge and share in a Celebration Lunch following the Service.
On Tuesday 18th June at 7.30pm a Service of Celebration will take place to acknowledge 150 years of Methodism in Alderley Edge. The Service will be led by Rev. Ben Clowes, and invited guests covering various aspects of the local community and beyond. They will join others from the Alderley Edge and Knutsford Methodist Circuit, as well as friends and members of the church, in an important Service to mark the occasion.
Then on Friday, 21st June a Festival of Flowers and Memorabilia will kick off at mid-day with a Lunchtime Concert featuring Helen Bywater on clarinet, accompanied by Russell Lomas on piano. Entry to the Concert and Festival is £5 and light lunches will be available following the Concert.
Judy O'Brien explained "Entitled 'Tracing Time' the Festival will cover 15 decades of the Church's life, each one containing memorabilia concerning the church itself, and artefacts from the social history of the time.
"Surrounding the photographs, and items of many and varied kinds, will be displays of flowers depicting the scenes. It is hoped that memories will be stirred by visitors who come to have a look and take a step back in time and yet bring forward thoughts of what was happening in the village and in the church at those particular times that might be relevant to them."
The Festival is open following the Lunchtime Concert through to 8.00pm on Friday 21st June, from 10am to 8pm on Saturday 22nd June and from 1pm to 6pm on Sunday 23rd June. Entrance is £3 and light refreshments will be available throughout.
A service at 6.30pm on Sunday will conclude the weekend celebrations, which will culminate with a presentation of the musical 'The Witness'.
Judy added "This will be a powerful and moving performance by the United Christian Singers, and is being dedicated to the memory of the late Rev. Harold Ward. A retiring collection will be taken in aid of the Spire and East Gable.
"Everyone is warmly invited to share in any or all of these events, and it is hoped the village will help us to celebrate this wonderful milestone birthday in style! Please come along and join in, you will be very welcome."
