THIS weekend when services are held at St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church, a few of the parishioners will remember the early days of their church.
Linda Gleadell will be one of them - after all, it was in her little garage in Beaumaris that the first service was held in 1951. Geoff Goode, who lives not far from Mrs Gleadell, will be another member of the congregation who recalls attending a service in Mrs Gleadell's little garage .He was 13 at the time, but last week when he visited Mrs Gleadell, the memories came flooding back.
"It's amazing how things from your childhood look so much smaller when you see them as an adult," Mr Goode said. "But I remember quite clearly how we used to file out of the garage and mingle in the garden."
These days the garage looks much the same as it did all those years ago, tucked into the corner of the yard; sturdy, with a high roof. The garden is overflowing with colour and there's a sense of feeling welcome, due in no small way to Mrs Gleadell's tremendous hospitality.
"Would you like another cup of tea," she asked, before recounting with great enthusiasm how her little garage became a house of worship.
Mrs Gleadell moved to Rennison St, Beaumaris, with her husband, Clive, shortly after they were married in 1946. They shared the house with Clive's father, William, and attended church at St Matthew's in Cheltenham.
It was the Reverend Robert Dann, who was appointed to the Cheltenham parish in July 1951, who encouraged the Beaumaris community to establish their own church.
"He told us it was no good having meetings, we had to have a worshipping congregation, "Mrs Gleadell said. "Everyone wanted a church and Clive's father agreed to let us use the garage, so we held the first service on September 16, 1951."
According to the St Matthew's Parish newsletter in October that year, "twenty-three people assembled in the spacious garage of Mr C. Gleadell … to become under God, the church in that area. It was an inspiring service".
Mrs Gleadell said: "It went very well and I think the atmosphere of those early days was a good foundation for the church we have today."
The church moved to its current site in Dalgetty Rd 12 months after starting in the garage. The move was made after parishioners convinced church officials of the need for an Anglican church in Beaumaris.
This weekend, as parishioners celebrate the 50th anniversary
of their church, there'll be a few people who know that from small
things, bigger things are indeed possible. A thanksgiving service will be held at St Michael and All
Angels' Anglican Church, Dalgetty Rd, Beaumaris, at 2.15 pm on Sunday,
September 16, to celebrate the first 50 years of Anglican worship in
Beaumaris.