Peoples Stories - Bevendean History Project
Happy Memories at St Mary Magdalen’s Church, Coldean
Well, if you ever thought that church was just about a Sunday morning service, you could be missing out on so many other fantastic times. I was attending St Andrews Church in Moulsecoomb for a few years before I moved to Coldean and have some of my greatest memories from my times there, including getting married and having our first child's christening. I also got confirmed in St Andrews, which was a super occasion for all that evening. But, moving from Bevendean to Coldean in November 2003 we decided to see what St Mary Magdalen’s was like as it was nearer and went to our first Sunday service.
It didn’t take long before me, my wife and first daughter were warmly welcomed into the congregation and St MM soon become part of our lives. Looking back over the 19 years at St MM it’s mad to think what we have been involved in, with so many memories it’s too hard to remember them all let alone mention them all. My wife started helping with Sunday school and I quickly joined the DCC. We helped run a youth club for many years, which was great fun. Usually between 10 – 20 primary school age kids, once a month on a Friday evening with lots of games, music, karaoke, pool table, table tennis and of course a tuck shop selling all my favourite sweets! We also helped run the Saturday morning disco that was also once a month and finished every year with a Christmas special in December. Featuring Mr. Father Christmas himself, wearing his famous white Adidas trainers while handing out pressies to all the children. I remember once playing the requested song ‘Gangman style’ four times in a row, (if you haven’t heard it, you must have been living on the moon) while the kids danced around the hall like a bunch of wild dancers flinging their arms in the air. And there was always a lovely bible story halfway through the morning, complete with a puppet show by the wonderful Reg Neville, which the kids loved to participate in.
Both of my other two children have since been christened at St MM and we have had some great times helping out and being part of the nativity plays over the years at Christmas, as well as children holiday clubs and Halloween light parties. There have also been many adult/family functions at the church over the years. One of my favourites was the barn dance in the church and also the line dancing nights which were great fun. There have been fancy dress discos, firework nights, karaoke nights, race nights to name just a few. Of course, the summer fairs and winter fairs are always good to be part of and for many of the fairs I have run the BBQ while my wife and children have helped out on many different stalls from cake stalls to plate smashing stalls. The Coldean festival which was a few years ago, to which St MM was part of, was a real joyful day. Hundreds of people turned out that day with lots of laughter all day long. Somehow, I managed to cook well over 400 hotdogs and burgers that day, amazing, but very hot!
I have also had many of my own family parties in the church hall over the years, with a very special 50th wedding anniversary party for my mum and dad, which Rev Betsy kindly helped me surprise my mum and dad in front of all their guests to a renewal of their wedding vows. As well as all the fun events I’ve been to at church, there have also been many special events to look forward to like the patronal festivals each year, with a touching service and a tasty buffet and party afterwards. And does St MM love a buffet, some of the best in town and I'm not joking either, you definitely won’t go hungry at a St MM do!!
Believe me when I say I could go on and on at how wonderful being part of a church is, with so many good times with so many great people. It has become a family over the years and part of my life, but that is what Jesus wants it to be all about. Sadly, Covid changed a lot for a while, but many great things have happened at the church since Covid, like the food bank and meals that are delivered to the community in need. And I’m looking forward to the Platinum Jubilee celebrations that are being held at the church with the help of the community. Even though I’ve had all these amazing memories at St MM over nearly two decades with my family, none are more important to me than the memories of attending the Sunday morning service. For without the Sunday morning service, I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of all the other beautiful memories. So, thank you St Mary Magdalen church in Coldean for all you’ve given me over the years, and may the happy memories keep coming!
Marc Boase
May 2022
Well, if you ever thought that church was just about a Sunday morning service, you could be missing out on so many other fantastic times. I was attending St Andrews Church in Moulsecoomb for a few years before I moved to Coldean and have some of my greatest memories from my times there, including getting married and having our first child's christening. I also got confirmed in St Andrews, which was a super occasion for all that evening. But, moving from Bevendean to Coldean in November 2003 we decided to see what St Mary Magdalen’s was like as it was nearer and went to our first Sunday service.
It didn’t take long before me, my wife and first daughter were warmly welcomed into the congregation and St MM soon become part of our lives. Looking back over the 19 years at St MM it’s mad to think what we have been involved in, with so many memories it’s too hard to remember them all let alone mention them all. My wife started helping with Sunday school and I quickly joined the DCC. We helped run a youth club for many years, which was great fun. Usually between 10 – 20 primary school age kids, once a month on a Friday evening with lots of games, music, karaoke, pool table, table tennis and of course a tuck shop selling all my favourite sweets! We also helped run the Saturday morning disco that was also once a month and finished every year with a Christmas special in December. Featuring Mr. Father Christmas himself, wearing his famous white Adidas trainers while handing out pressies to all the children. I remember once playing the requested song ‘Gangman style’ four times in a row, (if you haven’t heard it, you must have been living on the moon) while the kids danced around the hall like a bunch of wild dancers flinging their arms in the air. And there was always a lovely bible story halfway through the morning, complete with a puppet show by the wonderful Reg Neville, which the kids loved to participate in.
Both of my other two children have since been christened at St MM and we have had some great times helping out and being part of the nativity plays over the years at Christmas, as well as children holiday clubs and Halloween light parties. There have also been many adult/family functions at the church over the years. One of my favourites was the barn dance in the church and also the line dancing nights which were great fun. There have been fancy dress discos, firework nights, karaoke nights, race nights to name just a few. Of course, the summer fairs and winter fairs are always good to be part of and for many of the fairs I have run the BBQ while my wife and children have helped out on many different stalls from cake stalls to plate smashing stalls. The Coldean festival which was a few years ago, to which St MM was part of, was a real joyful day. Hundreds of people turned out that day with lots of laughter all day long. Somehow, I managed to cook well over 400 hotdogs and burgers that day, amazing, but very hot!
I have also had many of my own family parties in the church hall over the years, with a very special 50th wedding anniversary party for my mum and dad, which Rev Betsy kindly helped me surprise my mum and dad in front of all their guests to a renewal of their wedding vows. As well as all the fun events I’ve been to at church, there have also been many special events to look forward to like the patronal festivals each year, with a touching service and a tasty buffet and party afterwards. And does St MM love a buffet, some of the best in town and I'm not joking either, you definitely won’t go hungry at a St MM do!!
Believe me when I say I could go on and on at how wonderful being part of a church is, with so many good times with so many great people. It has become a family over the years and part of my life, but that is what Jesus wants it to be all about. Sadly, Covid changed a lot for a while, but many great things have happened at the church since Covid, like the food bank and meals that are delivered to the community in need. And I’m looking forward to the Platinum Jubilee celebrations that are being held at the church with the help of the community. Even though I’ve had all these amazing memories at St MM over nearly two decades with my family, none are more important to me than the memories of attending the Sunday morning service. For without the Sunday morning service, I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of all the other beautiful memories. So, thank you St Mary Magdalen church in Coldean for all you’ve given me over the years, and may the happy memories keep coming!
Marc Boase
May 2022
