Page 10 - Moravian Messenger July 2020

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Fairfield
The May activities started on the morning of 4th May at 11am: after responding to a knock on his door, Br Anthony Torkington was treated to a rousing rendition of happy birthday followed by recorded brass band music playing All You Need is Love, I Get By with a Little Help from my Friends and other Beatles numbers. He received gifts of chocolate to more than see him through a prolonged lock down.
VE day could have come and gone with little to commemorate its special 75th anniversary, but the residents of Fairfield Square were not going to let
that happen! With music organised by Br Glyn Jones playing over speakers the residents came out at 4pm and set up their afternoon teas outside their homes and enjoyed a special time of fellowship and personal memories.
75 years earlier the residents had also had special events planned as recorded in the Congregation Diary at Fairfield 1945 by Rev P Craig:
'VE day was a miracle of spontaneous organisation, the church was filled for a moving service of Thanksgiving in the evening, the school was then filled for a very happy social and sausage and mash supper, this was followed by the burning of a huge bonfire in the Sisters' Garden [now the Congregation Garden in front of No 30]. This was lighted at 9.30pm and was still burning merrily when everyone went home at 12 midnight. In fact my wife and I went out at 3am to see if all was safe, to find the ashes still glowing
Gracehill
It seems such a long time ago since we were all looking forward to Springtime and making plans building up to Easter Time. The Ballymena Church's Forum was, like everyone else, making exciting plans for the Summer events. One such event was an Art project, part of a Spring Festival planned in conjunction with Mid and East Antrim Council. The Forum, as part of their AGM, had two speakers, Rev Ron Elsdon and Helen Newell from Christian Aid speaking about how environmental issues impacts on how we live out our faith. A decision was taken to develop this through the Spring events.
Art workshops were planned for January and these were hosted by Local Churches, and open to everyone. They were designed to give everyone the opportunity to express ideas on faith, creation, and our responsibilities for caring for our amazing world. Sadly, the planned exhibitions in March had to be abandoned, but as the original idea had been to create an Arts Trail around the bus shelters in the area, this was able to take place with the support of Rosaline Lowery, the Arts officer from Mid and East Antrim Council who co- ordinated the project.
brightly. A spirit of profound thanksgiving gave a deep meaning to everything that was done. Not least on VE day were services held in two public houses, the Kings Head and the Jolly Carter lead by Br E Barker and myself supported by about a dozen members from the two congregations. the services brought home the real meaning of the day to many who would have forgotten it.'
Later in May another special street party was planned and on 23rd May tables and chairs again appeared outside homes in the Square to join Br Richard and Sr Gillian Ingham in celebrating their Golden Wedding. The weather as a little cool, but the general feeling of joy and celebration was enough to keep everyone warm.
Sr Margery Sutcliffe
In 1945 Gracehill held its own celebrations of the end of the war. In an extract from his diaries, Rev Chester recorded that it had been 'a very happy and successful day'. On 8th May a Special Service of thanksgiving and prayer had been held and on 9th May special celebrations had been arranged. These included a morning parade of all the Youth Organisations around the village followed by an open-air service in the square. In the afternoon there was a Fancy-
Dress Parade, Treasure Hunt, sports, tea, a concert and camp fire prayers. The Church was floodlit for the occasion and Sunday 13th May was a Day of National Thanksgiving for Victory in Europe.
This year Br Desmond Quaite shared his memories of VE Day, when he was just ten years old. He remembers vividly Br Chester
nailing Catherine Wheels to a piece of wood at the gates of the square, watching him taking down the blackouts in the Church and the hall, and the joy of seeing the lights in the Church being visible in the evening for the first time in five years. He remembers the Church bell being rung on and off all day and no-one complained! He remembers the games, fun, and Fancy-Dress Parade when he was dressed as a cowboy and riding a pony round the square. Lovely memories.
Sr Roberta Gray
© Sr Sally Ann Johnston
© Sr Sarah Groves
CONGREGATION NEWS
© Br Anthony Torkington