Parishioners have marked a special anniversary at their church.

Dukinfield Moravian Church has celebrated the 50th anniversary since the opening of its new building.

A special service was held at the church on Yew Tree Lane, where certificates were also given out to members of the congregation.

With the start of the development of Yew Tree Lane as a residential area, around 1956, Dukinfield Council asked the Dukinfield churches if any would be willing to set up a new congregation in the Yew Tree area.

The Moravian Church, which had had a church on Old Road since 1751, responded and purchased an old farm house known as Yew Tree Farm.

The church then purchased an old Nissen hut last used during World War Two and worship started, run by the minister, Br Tom McQuillan.

A leaflet drop around the houses of Yew Tree Lane attracted many families and so the Yew Tree Moravian Church was established.

In 1967, dry rot was discovered in the church on Old Road, and the decision was made to finally move the church completely to Yew Tree Lane. As it was only a small church with limited finances, the minister suggested that the parishioners build the church themselves.

They hired the services of a professional bricklayer and architect, but the rest of the men came from many backgrounds, including: minister, teacher, window-cleaner, fishmonger, sailor, gas fitter etc.

The men set about building the church. It took them from 1968 until the opening on March 3, 1973. They worked in the evenings, at weekends and during their annual holidays.

Since then, the church has developed Guide and Scout groups, a Mums and Tots’ Group, Messy Church, and a Youth Club. In recent years, the church has set up a Food Hamper Outreach Programme and Dementia Warriors Café.

Throughout the years, the pews have been replaced by chairs, thus making the church building more able to cope with the various demands asked of it.

The windows have been double-glazed, the heating system upgraded with solar panels installed and disability access has been provided.

A church garden has been made at the side of the church and has become an ideal space for summer fairs, which are held in July each year. The garden is also much appreciated by the youth of the church.

The special anniversary service was attended by more than 70 people.

Sue Selby, from the church, said: “The service started by looking back at the work carried out all those years ago and then our thoughts were concentrated on the present and future.

“Awards were presented to some of the children who regularly collect money for our Mission Fields and a talk centred around the fact that the church needs people of different abilities to carry on the work.

“We need people to teach, people to listen, people to wash up and people to run the groups that happen on a weekly basis. Everyone’s abilities are utilised.

“Then we moved to hearing people say just what the church means to them and we heard from several Dementia Warriors’ guests, people who had been members since the days of the farmhouse and those who had only joined comparatively recently.

“A lunch of potato pie with all the trimmings was served and we finished off the day with a service of Holy Communion.

“All in all, it was a wonderful day, full of fellowship, love, joy and a few tears as people looked back.”

Images by Nigel Wood

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