Part of URC Reading Group with Grange and Tilehurst United Reformed Churches
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St Andrew's URC Reading
Events
St Andrew's 140th Anniversary Celebrations
It's going to be quite a year. It not so often Companies, Organisations or Groups are able to celebrate a 140th Anniversary and still be going strong.
Like most success stories, success is built on strong people with a Vision and energy to overcome whatever trials they may have to face. So it has been the case with members and Elders at St Andrew's.
In years gone by, St Andrew's was known locally as the 'Scottish Church,' yes it had been a Presbyterian Church only becoming a United Reformed Church in 1972 with the Union of the Presbyterian Church of England and Congregational Church of England. And yes, the Reading Scottish Pipe band is based at St Andrew's, And we do have weekly Scorttish County Dancing and have been known to have a Scottish Fayre or two, And our Burns Night Celebration still attracts a full house.
During a long ministerial vacancy in the early 1990's our Elders and Members had a major review and decided to become more outward looking and look at the needs within our local community.
So it is today, where St Andrew's is truly an Inter-cultural Church Family with people from over 20 countries worshiping together each week.Ps We still have our Pipe and Drums and dancers too.
You will be made very welcome.
140th Anniversary Events
Events included
International Day - Saturday 30th April
A Church Family day as we shared Fellowship and Food and Dance from around the World.
Church Anniversary Dinner Dance - Friday 20th May
Fantastic evening with 108 members and friends sharing together.
Thanks to the Calcot Hotel, Bath Road, Reading and their staff for
helping make the evening so very special.
Special Anniversary Service - Sunday 22nd May
Celebration 140 years of witness in Reading, the morning Service at 11.00am was conducted by Revd Richard Church, Deputy General Secretary of the United Reformed Church. Previous members as representatives from local churches as well as Captain Harrie and Mrs Inge Wellmer from the Royal Embassy of the Netherlands who all joined us on this special day. Many thanks to everyone.
Church Charity Concert - Saturday 17th September
Our members and friends have talent, at least we beleive so!
We hope to raise money for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance service and have a lot of fun doing it.
African Drumming Workshop - Saturday 8th October
An exciting and fun event for our Junior Church and their friends.
Cake and Coffee Morning - Saturday 15th October
A special time of sharing with the Link groups who use our building including the various support groups;Reading Diabetes UK, B;ladder and Prostate Cancer, RBH ICU Team and others
To the skirl of the bagpipes, the 'warm reekin and rich' Haggis served with Champit Tatties and Neeps to the gathered clans.
A traditional Burns Night Supper, Colin Ferguson with an enlightening Immortal Memory and Don Drennan 'toasting' the lassies in only the way he can.
However, its was down to Viv Barthram who gave the lads a roasting with her reply on behalf of the Lassies present.
St Andrew's 140th Anniversary
Sunday 22nd May saw the 140th Anniversary
of the founding of St. Andrew's on our current
site on London Road, by the Royal Berks Hospital.
Revd. Richard Church, URC Deputy General Secretary conducted our morning worship, which was joined by representatives from Local Churches. Captain Harrie Welmer and his wife Inge representing the Embassy of the Kingdom of the the Netherlands was also present together with past members from all part of the UK.
As a small token of our thanks, a Celtic Quaich, a two handed pewter friendship cup was presented to Revd Church.
St Andrew's members welcomed ICU Consultant Tim Parks, ICU Sisters' Sheila Hill & Melanie Gager and volunteer Gordon Sturmey and presented a cheque for over £1000 to the ICU Charity.
The sum was raised by member donations. Thanks to everyone.
St. Andrew's Donation to RBH ICU Charity- Sun 24th April 16
Burns Night Supper - Saturday 23rd January 16
St Andrew’s 140th Anniversary Year
It seems no time ago since start planning events to celebrate St Andrew’s 140th Anniversary, formed initially as a Presbyterian Church and latterly as a United Reformed Church.
We enjoyed traditional events such as our Burn’s Night Supper in January; the One World Event of Food, Music and Dance in April; Charity Concert in aid of Thame Valley Air Ambulance in September; and an African Drumming Event in October. The Cake and Coffee event in October was attended by representatives by almost all our link group organisations
The Dinner Dance at the Calcot Hotel in May was a great success and our 140th Anniversary Service on 22nd May conducted by the Revd Richard Church and attended by Captain Harrie Welmer and his wife Inge as representatives of the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was very special.
A short Church History of St Andrew’s has been put down on paper and it is quite a history. And we have recorded as a Moment in Time with a poster of photo faces of all our church family.
Thank you everyone for your support during 2016.
2016 - It's been a very good year
Feasts and festivals weave together like threads.
The practice of feasting and marking significant events with a festive gathering is a strand that runs through the Bible.
The Christian church enshrines the great Jesus events of Christmas, Easter, Pentecost and Ascension in words and music.They inspire our gathering together in celebratory ways.
(c) St Andrews URC, Reading
