A round up of news from around the United Reformed Church over the past seven days, 28 May-4 June 2024.
Wessex Synod
Congratulations to the Cllr Revd Julian Macro, a retired URC minister, who was elected Mayor of Verwood in Dorset on earlier this month.
Julian’s term in office will run until 2025 and he will represent Verwood and Three Legged Cross.
Julian grew up and went to school in Wimbledon and then studied at universities in Wales and Oxford, taking degrees in Classics and Theology.
He was ordained in September 1968 and served as Minister of United Reformed churches in Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Berkshire.
Julian and his wife Dorothy moved to Verwood in 2005. He serves on a number of church and charity boards including the United Reformed Church Trust.
At the age of 28, Julian was appointed a JP and served as a Magistrate and in related roles with the probation and prison services. Julian has also worked as a non-executive director and chairman of a housing association.
The charities that Julian will be supporting during his time as Mayor of Verwood and Three Legged Cross will be, the Verwood Foodbank, linked with the Trussell Trust, and Bournemouth and District Samaritans.
Image: Verwood Town Council
North Western
Happy birthday to Peter Cole who recently celebrated his 87th birthday and 72 years as organist at Blackford Bridge URC.
The original Congregational Church had a full choir and under Peter’s direction sang a choral service each Sunday dressed in gowns.
Nowadays the service is simpler in style and Peter leads the congregational singing from his place at the piano-although on special occasions he still ascends to the organ.
Peter’s family have been stalwarts of the church at Blackford Bridge since it first opened.
Keith Bently, an Elder of Blackford Bridge URC, said: “He has fulfilled most offices at the church with distinction – most recently as treasurer.”
Elsewhere in North Western Synod, who has retired as secretary at Marple URC after 26 years was officially thanked and presented with a certificate of Loyal and Devoted Service and some gifts at the church’s recent AGM.
Southern Synod
A new community gym has opened inside Capel United Church in Kent following the closure of a facility in the village.
Hoppers Gym, opened at the church thanks to the collaborative efforts of directors Josh King, Paul Keepax, and Paul Kavanagh who all worked as self-employed personal trainers at Body Mission at Capel Gym up until its closure in early May.
Project manager, Rosy King and other community members set to work after deciding it would be devastating to lose a gym in the area.
“The village has lost a lot of its amenities – there’s no pub anymore and there’s a shop but that’s about it, so everyone relied on the gym,” said Rosy.
“There’s such a good community spirit in Capel and everybody was heartbroken when Capel Gym announced it was closing because it was sort of the hub of the village.”
More than 40 people volunteered to pay one year’s membership each to get the project up and running. The community also rallied in painting and getting the facilities ready.
The Revd Dr Jeremy Ive, Minister of Capel United Church, said the project was mutually beneficial to both the church and the community.
Capel United Church is a local ecumenical partnership between the URC and Church of England and worships at All Saints’ Church in Tudeley, Kent which has stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall that attract visitors from all over the world.