It was with great sadness that members of Hope Church learned of the loss of Mrs Gwynifred Leaney who passed away on 7th April.  They joined her family and friends recently in a Thanksgiving Service for her life.

Gwynifred was a faithful and dedicated member of the church sharing her interests, expertise and commitment in many areas of church life.  She was an excellent mentor and teacher with copperplate handwriting and with a fountain of knowledge in the rudiments of church life.  She was a Churchwarden for many years and passed on so many traditions to those who followed in the role both as Rector's Warden and People's Warden as well as a leader and organizer for the Altar Guild, Flower Guild and Church Cleaning.

She spent time as a church bell-ringer with her first lesson in January 2001 under the tutelage of Mrs Sue Pickering and became a proficient bell-ringer and then rang for many years on Sunday mornings and at weddings.

Gwynifred led the Altar Guild, mentoring with precise details the care of the beautiful altar frontals, some of which are very fragile and have gold-thread in the embroidery, and had a strong understanding of when they should be changed depending on the time in the liturgical calender: Advent; Christmas; Easter; Harvest; Saints Days, etc.  Gwynifred imparted so much knowledge regarding the heritage of the very old altar frontals, in some instances where they were made and in whose memory they were given.

The white linen had to be pristine and laid accordingly on the altar and ambry tables, her preference being laid at an angle – no straight lines!. The purificators (or in Gwynifred's words – God's hankies!) had to  be laundered, folded and pressed in a precise way for ease of use by the Incumbent preparing the Eucharist and Baptism. Every year she produced a rota for the Liturgical calendar for the change of the altar frontals and for the member responsible for the altar flowers.​

A devoted member of the Flower Guild, Gwynifred encouraged many to join and try their hand at flower arranging especially for festivals and on the rota for the altar flowers.  She was always so grateful to anyone who made donations to the Flower Guild and especially to those who gave a donation in memory of a loved one.

For many years Gwynifred organised a small team who cleaned on a weekly basis, though sometimes the chat took so much longer than the cleaning itself!

Gwynifred was also one of a small group of people who came together and organised 'Friends of Hope Church' and encouraged others to join.  'Friends' undertake to look after our local heritage - Hope Church, a Grade I listed building.

​Those who came to Pop in on Thursday enjoyed a time of celebration marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

This last photo shows some of the trees decorated by community groups to celebrate Easter.

​Following today’s service at Hope Church the congregation gathered in the Church Hall for refreshments and to wish Happy Birthday to David Williams who celebrated his 80th on February 1st.
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David has been the church organist at Hope for many years and is a very talented musician.  The photos show the amazing "organ" cake that Sally made for the occasion and David cutting it after the singing of ‘Happy Birthday’.

What a fabulous weekend of fellowship, fun and fundraising at Hope Church.

An evening of Christmas Bingo on Friday evening was an occasion of enjoyment and excitement ably led by our wonderful caller, Reader Alan Griffiths.  A welcome sum of £235 was raised at this event.

Then on Saturday the Christmas Fayre was held, displaying a wide variety of stalls including many home-made goods and produce as well as a Grand Christmas Draw. It was splendid to see so many attending this annual event and we are delighted to learn that about £1000 was raised.
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We would like to thank all those who used their skills and time to contribute in any way to the success of both the Bingo and the Fayre and who helped to give the Hall such a festive flavour as the Christmas season begins.