Page 10 - Lydden News Letter 2025.cdr

The Church on Canterbury Rd by John Glass

I / we were members of the Church for several years, probably nearly 20, it was close
handy, warm, and had services in the evening. Which then, when having a young
family, then later on, looking after elderly parents, the evening services proved to be
very convenient and relaxed. Our kids all attended the Monday Club, I got involved in
some of the later alterations, the disabled toilet and some wiring. I joined the Men’s
fellowship, but probably the most important thing I gained from there was our
Humanitarian trips to Romania with the late Pastor Hadyn Twinberrow. That led to me
leading other groups, and joining other groups going out for nearly 10yrs, both driving
& flying. But, Covid & Heart problems, (couldn’t find one !!), unfortunately put paid to
further trips, but led to me doing the Shoebox scheme for Rotary International. Been
doing that for 6yrs, and so far sent over 1,300 boxes !! So well pleased with that !!
Shame the Church moved, we did for a while, but as we were married back in the old
village Church, kids mostly baptised and married there, we decided that’s where we
should be. Bit of a change to 9o/c services in an unheated Church, this time of year !!
but….

However, back to Canterbury Rd. Kept an eye on the site when the alterations
started. Can’t beat a good skip for a bargain !! a lot of the old beams were a brilliant
source of fire wood, but also being big "slabs" made blocking up motors etc a lot safer.
There was plenty off it, so was quite a regular sight loading up with all sorts. I made
use of it all, including the pallets, repairing & strengthening decaying fencing, making
window boxes, and decorative fencing to keep garden edges tidy. Most of it was cut
down and chopped and taken round to the late Mr Tom. A well known Gent' of the
village who I’d known for nearly 60yrs as he worked with my (then), future Father in
Law, and later on as I got involved with the other Church, eventually taken over his
role as Church Warden. So during my rummaging
and talking to the Father & Son team as they knew
I was involved, I was asked if I would like one of
the blue blocks from the cross in the wall. I
accepted as I’d "rebuilt" the cross when it needed
attention. When we got chatting, I told them I took
a lot of the wood to Tom, on hearing that they
offered to cut it down to size for me so all I had to
do was deliver it. So I left a couple of garden bags
there and picked up when ready. Rather good of
them I thought !! Several other rummages
resulted in the barge boards, whilst damaged in
removal, I managed to trim down and use to make
low wall to edge a border.

The Church benefited by a Fire Extinguisher. Have to be careful disposing of
pressurised vessels. As 2 were pressured, but also well out of date, the cost of
testing, refilling etc would have outweighed new units, but I used them to get the other
one serviced, tested and certificated. Result !!

Seems a long time ago now, people moved in story complete !!
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