A special service was held on Sunday morning in recognition of the hard work and dedication of those who had filled sixty-three shoeboxes for the church to send out via Operation Christmas Child, alongside the traditional “Toy Sunday”, held for many years now, when gifts are brought to be sent to poor families in Bradford.

The gift table was well loaded, and these parcels will be transmitted to Bradford in time for Christmas, whilst the shoeboxes will also be collected forthwith and sent on to needy recipients overseas.

The service was very much a family occasion, with the children collecting up the adults’ gifts, and various members of the congregation taking part in the service. Readers were Palfrey Turner, Elsie Balme and Olive Polglase, whilst worship was led by the minister, the Rev Beverly Turner. David Philp was the organist.

Evening worship was the first of the winter vestry services held in the cosier atmosphere of the choir vestry at the rear of the building. The preacher was the Rev Stephen Bales, former Circuit minister, who raised the question “What was all that about?” in relation to two rather obscure pieces of scripture, which he went on to explain. Pianist was Paul Brown.

On Sunday it will be the turn of the Methodist Church to host the annual Remembrance Day parade at 2.30pm. All are most welcome to join the Town Council, other local organisations and the congregations of all the town’s churches for this important Act of Remembrance.

There will also be a short ceremony at the War Memorial on Tuesday, November 11 at 11am, in accordance with tradition.