Carnival weekend at St Anne’s saw some rather mixed weather, but not enough to dampen the enthusiasm of church members and friends who threw themselves into the happy spirit of the occasion.
The theme for this year’s Carnival, which has been celebrated in the town for over 100 years, was ‘We do like to be beside the seaside’. Churches Together in St Anne’s organised a walking float, and members of the URC joined in the parade, along with some from the church’s Junior Church, Messy Church and ‘Starfishes’, the popular toddler & carer group. The theme allowed for much in the way of suitable Bible stories – with the miraculous catch of fish, the casting of nets, and the calming of storms being depicted with crafts and props made by the children in the weeks before the big day. A great deal of talent and imagination was evident from the preparations, and the walking float was awarded first prize by the judges in the Faith Groups & Charities section.
After the parade finished people gathered in the church gardens to eat their picnics, to relax or to join in with some of the fun activities which had been arranged by Messy Church.
Over the course of the weekend volunteers from the church also helped out at the Churches Together stand in the town’s Ashton Gardens. A number of good conversations were had with visitors to the stall, donations were received for Christian Aid, children enjoyed making some crafts, numerous booklets and leaflets were taken away (along with some lollipops), information about the town’s churches was shared, and prayer requests were received. On both days proceedings were brought to a conclusion in the late afternoon, courtesy of some spectacular thunderstorms, but all agreed that it had been very worthwhile and rewarding.