St Anne's at 150

THANKSGIVING SERVICE

Pictured: Graham and Mavis (St Anne's churchwardens), cutting the 150 cake made by Sarah (centre), part of today's wonderful bring and share lunch after our United Service of Thanksgiving for St Anne's 150th anniversary.

As we arrived for the service we were serenaded by the Dockland Ringers, who usually ring the bells at St James, who came to ring at St Anne's on a mobile bell rig which they also played - and allowed visitors to use - at yesterday's Community Fun Day:

Also on their way to church was someone who looked so Victorian, she could have been Queen Victoria

And then there was a clutch of past and present vicars, including (left to right), Stewart Hartley, Stan Catton, and Henry Whyte.

And then we joined together for a service full of joy and praise, giving thanks to God for the origins of St Anne's in what today would be called a bold piece of pioneer evangelism, hearing from the children of the church what they valued about St Anne's and from two more senior members, Mavis and Jackie, who shared their memories of St Anne's.

Bishop Graham Kings led us and in act of Rededication at the end, as we set out on our next 150 years, but first he preached on the story of Ruth, using this picture

The whole story of Ruth points to Christ, and the baby in the picture (Obed, the grandfather of King David), does so in particular. Graham encouraged us as Christians to see ourselves in the picture, because we are in Christ, and God is working out the purposes of his kingdom through us.

COMMUNITY FUN DAY

They flocked to St Anne's Churchyard yesterday for a wonderful community celebration. It was great to see so many people there, to meet so many people we knew, to get to meet new people, and to see everyone having such a great time.

Everything was free (apart from the ice creams) so the whole event was a lovely expression of the generous giving of God. Here are some of the photographic highlights of a great day: