Thirteen people have been confirmed at St Mike’s in Bournemouth as part of a special service to mark the church’s 150th anniversary. Three families were among those who were confirmed and the service was led by Bishop Rhiannon.
The celebration was also one of diverse culture. Vicar Revd Sarah Yetman said, “At St Mike’s, we have people who represent many different nationalities who make up the congregation, and we asked people not only to come in national dress, but also to bring food from their culture, if at all possible. So, we had a feast of Nigerian, Iranian, English, Italian, and loads of other types of food as well.”
The church building was finished in 1876. It was built in the highest part of Bournemouth, and its vision is to be a beacon of light and hope in the area. The church is in a joint parish with St John’s, and the congregation there also joined the celebration.
The church was decorated with a tower of balloons and flowers for the 150th anniversary. The service was followed by a bring and share lunch and birthday cake.
Revd Sarah continued, “I think it’s really special. It’s been a chance to look back at the faithfulness of God throughout the years gone by, but also to look forward and to be able to see that there is so much more still to come.”
The church is planning different ways to mark the anniversary throughout the year. along the themes of spiritual serving, social events and sharing our faith in the community. One idea is to donate 150 items to the Bournemouth Food Bank.
