St Hilda’s Church in East Gosgote recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. That might sound young, as churches go, particularly when some of us are worshipping in centuries-old buildings. However, St Hilda’s started as a church plant - a worshiping community built out of the bright red bricks of a new housing development in the east of the Diocese of Leicester.
The village of East Goscote was created in the 1960s on the site of a former army supply depot. Some years later, in the early days of the ‘church’, its first vicar, Revd Dudley Gummer and his wife, Jane, visited every household that moved into those newly built homes, inviting them along to coffee mornings and Bible study, baby clubs and history groups.
The church actually began in the vicar’s home - many people remember having their children baptised in his living room – and later moved to the village hall, before finally ending up in its current building, which was dedicated in February 1975.
Five decades later, and some of the same people who used to see Revd Gummer riding his bike through the streets of East Gosgote still live in the village and worship at St Hilda’s Church.
Patricia Marsland is one of those parishioners. She has been a mainstay of the local church and community since moving to the village with her young family in 1976.
Currently PCC Secretary, Patricia shared her memories of St Hilda’s and the changes the church and community have seen during those 50 years at a celebratory service attended by villagers past and present who travelled from all over the country to join them.
A foster carer and community champion, Patricia has seen family weddings and christenings in St Hilda’s, has helped at and led various church and community groups through the years, and has taken every role from Treasurer to Churchwarden, PCC Secretary to Verger.
“We hope our church continues into the coming years to be a hub for our village,” she said.
Congregations and friends from local churches in surrounding villages came to support St Hilda’s on their special day, including Bishop Martyn who was invited to lead the thanksgiving worship.
During the service, other parishioners who had been there from the beginning shared their memories of the church being built and of the church’s activities throughout the years.
Described as ‘a quiet stalwart’ in the church and undertaking many roles over the years including Sunday School teacher, Jessie has been a part of the church since before the building was built and was presented with Maundy Money by Her Majesty the Queen a few years ago.
Members of St Hilda’s created a beautiful knitted floral arch to welcome visitors to the church on the day. After the service there was lunch with a celebratory cake and a display of photos and memorabilia.
Bishop Martyn said that St Hilda’s was a great example of church planting and a flourishing church community, adding: “It was a pleasure to share in the occasion with St Hilda’s and hear people’s memories, and what is going on in the village today.”
Revd Ros Harper, current vicar of the church, said: “The singing really raised the roof, especially ‘Betty’s hymn’ which was written by a former church member. The lines ‘We thank you Lord for this our Church, St Hilda’s is a truly blessed place,’ summed up the feelings of everyone present.
“Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate. We give thanks to God for his faithfulness over the past 50 years and pray for the years to come.”
