Today we take a look back at a historic church event as part of an ongoing “5 into 1 All Our Stories” memories project.
This year, the Colne Times has teamed up with the Colne and Villages Team Ministry to help all age groups explore the history of each of the five churches in a Heritage Lottery funded project.
And for this month’s theme, we reflect on Whit Monday — a holiday celebrated the day after Pentecost.
Parishioner Alison remembers a 1955 event with Colne Parish Church, where she enjoyed a sunny afternoon of races and picnic tea.
She said: “We set off at lunchtime from the old school building on Exchange Street and paraded around town, with a band, before stopping at St Bartholomew’s where we sang a number of hymns and said prayers outside in the graveyard.
“Large crowds gathered on the route to wave and cheer us on.
“It was very exciting and I was very proud to be a part of it.
“Afterwards we had tea and cakes in the school rooms — no coffee in those days!
“This was followed in the afternoon with an ‘old fashioned’ sports day — egg and spoon races, sack races and many more races which everybody had a go at.
“For some reason these were held in a field, I think the church owned, at the top of Alkincoats Park and across Red Lane.
“If it rained there was a hut we used to shelter in.”
For next month’s theme, we will aim to share memories of vicars from St Bartholomew’s Church, Christ Church, Holy Trinity Church, St Michael and All Angels Church, Foulridge and St Mary the Virgin Church, Trawden.
Anyone with a memory, no matter how big or small, can contact Lynne Mitchell by emailing lynnemitchell99@yahoo.com.
Memories can also be left in any of the churches.
St Bartholomew’s is open daily from 10am or ou can visit the website http://5into1 memories ofchurch.wordpress.com