Wellhouse, Yorkshire - Nov 2025

We have enjoyed a fairly busy year so far. In additional to our normal of services and meetings, we held a quiz night in March, which was well attended, and I think enjoyed by all (well most). At our Church Anniversary in April, we welcomed Br Bob Hopcroft to lead the worship – it was good to see Bob and Wendy back with us. In the evening of the same day, we hosted the Yorkshire District Singers for the Palm Sunday service of reading and song. In May we hosted a Christian Aid Lunch for the Mirfield Churches. It was a much more enjoyable way to support the cause than by door-to-door collections. On the Friday of that week Brn Cooper and Evans collected at the Coop in Mirfield as part of the Christian Aid collections in Mirfield.

In June we commenced a free monthly Coffee Morning to be held on the first Wednesday. It started off with a few people but has grown over the months, and it is good to see some new faces from around the local area.

Also in June, Br Evans along with a local URC minister conducted the funeral of Sr Carol Hudston, wife of Br David Hudston a former minister of the congregation. It was held at the local URC Church, where David had served. Carol’s ashes have been interred on God’s Acre at Wellhouse.

In September we held a service to remember Loved Ones. We welcomed back some family members who over the past months have lost a loved one and each lit a candle, and some brought an article to remember the one who was gone. On 19th September we held a Memorial Service for the late Eileen Robinson, sister to Howard, Leslie and Colin, two of our past Moravian ministers. Eileen passed way in June but because of the distance the family had to travel it was decided to delay the service and get-together until September. Also in September, we hosted the annual Dance Class Presentation Service. It was the best attended so far: we had 122 in the congregation, with family relatives there to support the young people. On the last Sunday of the month, we held our Harvest Thanksgiving Service with all the gifts of tinned and packet foods along with warm clothing and sleeping bags going to the Bradford Soup Run. The service was led by Rev Hugh Baker, the local Anglican vicar, and it was an enjoyable service.

Throughout the year we have enjoyed hearing of the Diamond Wedding Celebrations of two of our members Br and Sr Evans: it was 60 years on the 27th March that the celebrations started with a meal out for family and friends at Gomersal Park Hotel. Then followed the family holiday to Ibiza, a trip back to North Wales, another on the Welsh Highland Railway, and a trip to London, with afternoon Tea in Harrods, followed by an open top bus and a trip down the Thames.

We thank God for the strength to carry on working for his Kingdom.

Br Kenneth G Evans