The V.C.O. gave a concert in our Wesley Centre Hall on Thursday 18^th December.

The band performing.

Ladies from the local Sandbach High School and Sixth Form College constructed a giant 12 foot square image of their interpretation of Advent in our Wesley Centre Hall.

The finished painting.

Our annual post-Christmas family walk, on Tuesday 27^th December. Thanks to John Brain for this photo.

The walkers.

On Saturday 8^th October, over twenty walkers went on a 4½ mile walk in the Dane Valley. Thanks to John Brain for this photo.

The walkers.

On Saturday 24^th and Sunday 25^th September, we celebrated Harvest Festival with a flower festival.

The communion area.

A service of welcome was held last Sunday evening, 4^th September, for the Rev’d Kim Stilwell, who is the new Methodist Minister for Sandbach, Sandbach Heath and Bradwall. The service was held at Sandbach Methodist Church, which was packed by Methodists from the Sandbach and Alsager Methodist Circuit, as well as representatives from the local Anglican, Catholic and Baptist congregations, and friends from Rev’d Stilwell’s previous church in Sevenoaks, Kent. The service was led by Circuit Superintendent, Rev’d David Westhead, the Chair of the Chester & Stoke-on-Trent District, Rev’d John Walker, and the sermon was given by the National Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, Mr John Bell. Welcomes were given by Mrs Ann Bradburn, Circuit Steward, Rev’d Adrian Lloyd, representing other churches in the town, and Borough Mayor, Mr Gordon Baxendale. The choir sang an anthem, and the organist was Mr Derek B. Jennings, who celebrated 60 years on the organ last January. The church music group also accompanied a hymn. Rev’d Stilwell is married to Stella, and they have five children. This is his first post as Minister, having previously worked as a lecturer in broadcast engineering in London. Members of the church in Wesley Avenue are also looking forward to their Harvest Weekend, “Come Ye Thankful People Come”, to be held on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September. There will be a flower festival, craft sales, and refreshments. Admission is free, and donations to the building fund are welcome. The church will be open from 10:30am to 4:00pm on the Saturday, and 2:00pm to 4:00pm on the Sunday, and there will also be services at 10:30am and 6:30pm led by Rev’d Stilwell. Thanks to Rob Glassonbury for this photo, on the steps of our church.

From left to right: Congleton Borough Mayor Councillor Gordon Baxendale and Mrs Baxendale; Methodist District Chair Rev’d John Walker; Rev’d Kim Stilwell; Methodist Conference Vice-President John Bell; Congleton MP Lady Ann Winterton; and Circuit Superintendent Minister Rev’d David Westhead.

On Saturday 4^th June, there was a Circuit Prayer Walk along the Trent and Mersey Canal from Moston to Rode Heath. We were accompanied by a canal boat and stopped at various points to pray for the nearby churches. Thanks to John Brain for this photo, taken at Wheelock.

The walkers and the canal boat at Wheelock.