When Her Majesty the Queen celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in June, United Reformed Churches and LEPs rolled out the red, white and blue carpets to welcome members and friends for hundreds of activities over the extra-long Bank Holiday weekend. Andy Jackson found some jubilee gems:
St Columba’s URC, North Shields, offered a fabulous recreation of the Official Platinum Jubilee Trifle by church member Gill Oliver. It was served at the Faith Lunch on June 5 and minister Trevor Jamieson personally attested to its “yummy-ness!”
Abington Avenue URC in Northampton held a plethora of activities including crown making and cookie baking, the chance to sit in a cardboard version of the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, coaster making, arts, crafts, games, plasticine modelling, a jubilee pudding contest, prayer stations, pictures of the Royal Family through the decades, Messy Church and the Vice-Lord Lieutenant Morcea Walker burying the church’s time capsule.
Trinity URC in Brownhill near Blackburn joined forces with St Gabriel’s, Holy Souls’ Church and lots of families and friends for a community Jubilee celebration. The Step4ward team of line dancers demonstrated their skills and got others to join in to work off the calories caused by the Victoria sandwich cakes. Donations for the day were received from Tesco which provided the ice cream stall, and Brownhill Coop which donated milk and cakes. Face painting, crafts, games and a bouncy castle were also enjoyed.
A petting farm, exotic animals, children’s rides and a ferris wheel were in the grounds and church of Woking URC for its half term activity days. Organised with the Children with Special Needs Foundation, the church saw hundreds of visitors go on the rides, see domestic and exotic animals, get temporary tattoos, eat lots of cake and learn about the care of animals. Minister Lucy Brierley, is pictured with the Mayor of Woking, Cllr Saj Hussain. A jubilee street party took place a few days later.
St Andrew’s Roundhay in Leeds held a Jubilee Celebration with a barbeque, bar, a Royal Dessert, bouncy castle, games, Royal fancy dress, make a crown competition, face painting and music.
The Boys’ Brigade at Brixham URC had a double celebration. Not only did they have a jubilee open evening with lots games, refreshments and hand crafted bunting, they also raised enough money for a Toilet Twinning Project in a school block in Malawi. On May 23, the church’s service was led by Canon Simon Bloxham-Rose, Deputy Priest in Ordinary to HM the Queen.
St John’s URC in Warrington held a jubilee lunch with pride of place going to the new Platinum Jubilee pudding, the lemon swiss roll and amaretti trifle created by Jemma Melvin of Southport.
Christ Church Uxbridge held a jubilee themed coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
The Mead Centre, part of Newport Pagnell URC, held a craft fair with cakes and a grouping singing swing, the style of jazz that developed in the US almost a century ago. It also ran an additional Pilates class which may be related to the cakes …
Longcauseway Church in Dewsbury held a jubilee tea with an artist chalking out a 70th jubilee display with flowers and corgis on the pavement. And Ravensthorpe with Hopton Church enjoyed a sumptuous jubilee tea in the hall which was festooned with decorations and flags.
St Andrew’s with Castle gate URC in Nottingham received a spectacular commemorative plate made by mosaic artist Sophie Robins to mark the two jubilees – the Queen’s and the URC’s!
Pianist Karl Mullen performed at Wigton Moor URC’s jubilee event. Dozens of people sang, danced and shared a meal.
The Dales URC in Bakersfield, Nottingham, enjoyed a lot of highly decorated red, white and blue cups cakes.
Abbots Road URC in Leicester enjoyed a jubilee event with tea shared with almost 80 people.
Stainbeck United Reformed Church celebrating the Platinum Jubilee with local councillors Jane Dowson, Mohammed Shahzad and Sharon Hamilton joining in. Cllr Shahzad thanked “… all of the volunteers for setting up and organising such a wonderful celebration for all communities to come together and enjoy the occasion with many activities and an array of refreshments.”
Christ Church Chelmsford held a jubilee tea helped by someone dressed in a Union jack onesie and a platinum jubilee flag held in place by nine copies of Rejoice and Sing!
Cromer Avenue URC in Gateshead celebrating a jubilee lunch, a quiz and some royal bingo!
New Chapel URC in Horwich set up a cross shaped set of planters in between letters spelling out ER 70.
Otley Bridge Church held a jubilee extravaganza with many performers singing and reading.
Dorking URC created a special flower bed to mark the jubilee as well as a reflection on crowns and those mentioned in the Bible for everyone to download.
Wellingborough High Street URC entered a royal scarecrow for the Jubilee Scarecrow Festival which took place at the town’s library. The church’s Facebook page said it was where Queen Elizabeth met another Liz, minister the Revd Liz Adams!
In 1977, Jane Walmsley, the wife of Cub Scout leader for the 8th Sutton Coldfield Cubs at Sutton Coldfield URC John Walmsley, had an idea to make a Silver Jubilee Quilt. Church members hold specific memories of the quilt either as former Brownies, Cubs, Guides or Scouts, as leaders or as parents whose children completed one of the 63 panels. The quilt was displayed in the church foyer for many years and made a special appearance for the Platinum Jubilee.
Pype Hayes URC in Erdington held a jubilee coffee morning with plenty of cake, memorabilia and knitting on display.
The Queen, who appeared in a special film with Paddington Bear which revealed that she, too, carries an emergency marmalade sandwich, said: “Thank you to everyone who has been involved in convening communities, families, neighbours and friends to mark my Platinum Jubilee … I know that many happy memories will be created at these festive occasions. I continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me, and hope that the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the last seventy years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm.”
Main image: Stainbeck Church celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Image: Mohammed Shahzad.