‘Unsung heroes’ from churches across Southampton have been honoured in a special reception hosted by the Bishop of Southampton and the Lord Mayor. Find all the photos from the event here.
It was the first event of its kind and was the idea of Bishop Rhiannon and Councillor James Baillie and his wife Becky, who worship at Holy Saviour in Bitterne. They wanted to give thanks to volunteers who give their time and talents to serve God in their local communities and in their churches, often over many years.
Lord Mayor Councillor James Baillie said, “In Southampton we have a fantastic church body that do so many amazing things across the city and that’s something that I’ve really noticed in my time since becoming Mayor, just the range of ways in which the church serves the city. I feel it’s important to recognise those people that give so much of their time to make sure that all of that happens. So, this chance to celebrate those unsung heroes is an excellent opportunity and one that I’m glad we’re able to have.”
Clergy from across the Southampton Deanery were invited to nominate people for awards and around 40 people came together for a special afternoon with a cream tea and cakes in the mayor’s parlour before being presented with certificates.
Bishop Rhiannon said, “It was beautiful to be in a room with all these clergy who were over the moon to celebrate some of the people in their churches who have done wonderful things for many years. I think many of them could have nominated so many more if we’d allowed them! It was wonderful to do this with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, who have been so kind and generous in allowing us to be here today, and it felt like we were very much one family celebrating each other’s gifts.”
People were nominated for many different reasons and here are some of their stories:
Elise Tedridge runs the Millbrook Marketplace which is a joint venture between All Saints and St Peter’s and Southampton City Mission. The marketplace is a community food membership, helping people in the local community access fresh, healthy food and as well as getting access to advice on housing, bills and benefits. She has also helped with the toddler group and other roles around the church.
She said, “I think, for me, as much as I love being there and helping, it’s also transformed my life. Before I started at Marketplace, I had no confidence, and I was depressed. Now, I’ve been promoted in my job. A couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to come to an event like this because I would have been too anxious. What people forget is what the volunteer is taking out of the role and for me, I think it has probably saved my life. Now when I look at other people, I no longer think, ‘I wish I had your life’. People might wish they had mine because I have Marketplace and I have the church and I’m a lot happier than I was before.”
Revd Ali Alexander, Vicar of Maybush Parish nominated Sarah Parker as an ‘unsung hero’. Sarah is the administrator at the church and responsible for safeguarding. Revd Ali said, “Sarah has a part-time paid role within the church, but she does way above her hours and is always there as a listening ear. She is also keen to volunteer and support all the work that we do in the community. I think the ‘unsung heroes’ event is a really good idea. We need to encourage all those people who sit quietly out of the way and acknowledged them.”
Sarah said, “What I like about my job is that I’m helping others and I’m also supporting my church, which I love. My church is particularly interesting in that we have a lot of neurodiversity and we support a lot of families who maybe wouldn’t necessarily come to a usual Sunday service or even come into church itself. We do a lot of work with the community to show them that the church is about family and fellowship and we want people to see what we do, who we are, and to just feel welcome.”
Sandra and Brian Gaffney help run the café at Holy Saviour in Bitterne, which started after Covid to offer a safe space for people to come, who might be anxious after lockdown. It now includes armchair exercises and there’s a midweek communion that visitors can join too.
They said, “People have made deep friendships over the years. They now feel part of the church and feel loved and cared for and that’s what we’re about. They’re part of a team that get together every Wednesday and chat and it’s developing in ways where people are now doing more together, which is just lovely.”
Valerie Tucker and Richard Kirkwood from Christ Church Freemantle joined the celebration. Valerie has been a Sunday school volunteer for 60 years and Richard sung in the choir for 35 years.
Valerie said, “I enjoy teaching the children Christian values, as well as preaching the gospel. They can tell you stories about Jesus, and they pray now before the service. I’ve seen lots of them grow up and have children of their own, and they still come to church so that’s really nice.”
Richard added, “I like choral singing and bringing glory to God. It’s nice to be nominated and to come here today. You do it because you enjoy it, but it was a nice thought for someone to say ‘thank you for the effort’.”
Revd Karen Linington, who nominated the pair, said, “Valerie and Richard are well loved in the church, but they’re very hidden, so it was important for me to acknowledge my appreciation of them, for everything that they are and everything they bring to the church. They would never stand up and say anything about what they do and even when I asked them, they were both very hesitant to come today, so I felt it was important to acknowledge the value of what they give to our children and to our church.”
Wendy Bathard and Christine Seed are from St Mark’s Church in Archers Road. Wendy helps at the church lunch club, has been on the PCC and held many other church roles over the last 60 years.
She said, “If there’s something practical to be done, I like to help out and do it. Church is like a second home and my family. I think we are appreciated for what we do, but it’s very nice to be nominated and recognised.”
Christine has run the church’s toddler group for more than a decade, which attracts 50 or more children on a Monday morning. She also started a Bumps and Baby group after Covid.
Christine added, “It keeps me young. It keeps me out. It keeps me focused,” she said, “The toddler group has been running for more than 40 years and is one of the main outreach opportunities that we have as a church. The group, plus The Haven lunch club that Wendy organises, helps bring in the community, which is what it’s all about.”
Roshni George from Saint Mary’s Church helped at the food bank during lockdown. It’s now become the church’s ‘Meeting Place’ which is a social supermarket, ‘pay what you can’ café and advice service. She is also involved in pastoral care and helps organise banquets three times a year at the church which encourage people to cook and share their nationality dish.
She said, “We have seen people go from strength to strength, and it’s been amazing getting to know people and seeing how lives have been transformed. Relationships have been built, and we’ve become family to a lot of people. When I became a Christian, I think the Lord knew that what was missing in my life was family, so to me, church means family, and to God, that’s his family. I think that what I’ve received, I want to give to other people. We want people to come and belong, to feel loved and cared for and to see amazing things happening.”
Maria Rainger is from St Alban’s Church in Swaythling. She helps at the church’s ‘Thursdays Together’ which provides Fareshare food, hot and cold drinks and a place to chat. She also sets up the laptop on a Sunday, is part of the welcoming team and helps with refreshments after the service.
She said, “Four years ago I walked into church with my daughter and knew I was home. Ever since then, I have felt I am loved and understanded. I have learning difficulties, and I make mistakes, but they all turn around and say, ‘well done’ to me, so St Albans is everything. If it wasn’t for me walking back through those doors, I would still be lost and now I am found, and I am honoured to be part of the St Albans team. I’m shocked to get this certificate, but it means the world to me that somebody has said, ‘you do deserve it’.”
Revd Peter Dockree added, “Maria is a superstar. She’s come on a massive journey and is constantly willing and pushing herself beyond her comfort zone to do things and to help out. She’s always working behind the scenes in so many ways. She does everything from reading in church, to sorting out the communion before services. It’s been a privilege to watch her confidence grow, her willingness to serve and to follow her faith journey.”
He continued, “I think I could have nominated half my church because there are lots of unsung heroes. It’s always difficult to single people out, but I think it’s also important to do so sometimes, and I think this idea is lovely”.
The event ended in a prayer, asking God to bless the work of the churches in the city.
Bishop Rhiannon added, “I hope people will feel encouraged by being here. We want people to do more of the same and to think of other unsung heroes in the church so that we can keep encouraging one another. In Hebrews 10:24, it says ‘let’s spur one another on to love and to good works’ and we hope that this afternoon has helped people to do that.”
