Double celebration for Sonning
A DOUBLE celebration was held at a Sonning church on Jubilee Sunday.
Not only did St Andrew’s hold a service to celebrate Pentecost and 70 years of the Queen’s reign, but they also dedicated a new buggy which will be used to help parishioners with mobility issues get around the church grounds.
The service featured a Scripture reading from former prime minister Theresa May, and an address by Lord Carey, a former Archbishop of Canterbury.
Celesete Hexter, head chorister of the church and a pupil of St Joseph’s College in Reading, also gave a Bible reading, while the choir sang a number of anthems including a setting of Psalm 150, and a performance of Zadok The Priest, which was composed for the coronation of King George II in 1727, and performed at every British coronation since.
Hymns included I Vow To thee My Country and Lord For the Years, Your Love Has Kept and Guided.
The service concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.
Afterwards, people headed to the church’s garden room, The Ark, for a drinks reception and the unveiling of the mobility buggy, which has been called Bertie.
Funding was provided by Christina Goodacre, in memory of her late husband, Peter, and by Janet Robson, in thanksgiving for the work of the church.
The parish vicar, the Revd Jamie Taylor, was full of praise for how the day – and the Jubilee celebrations – had gone.
“The service was a wonderful celebration of our Sovereign’s 70 years of service,” her said.
“To have her fifth Archbishop of Canterbury and 13th Prime Minister taking part was slightly surreal but also tremendous, and the significance of that was not lost on any of us.
“Her Majesty’s unwavering devoted service is something that we can all be deeply thankful for and also, I believe, learn from, especially her devotion to Jesus Christ and her
willingness to share her conviction of faith with her people.
“Her Christmas broadcasts have become increasingly more powerful in recent years as she has felt the need to speak up about her abiding faith in the King of Kings.”
He continued: “After last Sunday’s special service, where we heard music from various Coronations and a sermon from Lord Carey, we hosted a drinks party at which Theresa May MP and Lord Carey unveiled a golf buggy which has been gifted to the church by two well wishers.
“This new facility will benefit the
elderly and frail when they come to our Sunday services and all our outreach events in the week.”
This includes the church’s Rendezvous senior citizens’ lunch club which meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.
Mr Taylor added: “We do have a very large churchyard and this will make a huge difference as the distance from the car park to the church and Ark is a real challenge for some of our more senior church members.
“Mrs May named the buggy ‘Bertie’ in recognition of the Queen’s father’s nickname.”