Ann, you have lived in Langley all your life and worshipped at the Langley Free Church (Baptist) from your childhood – that is quite an amazing record. Do share with us some memories of your early life. Not many Around Langley readers will know what Langley was like in the Fifties.
My parents had a grocer-cum-greengrocer shop in Meadfield Road, which is where I spent the first nineteen years of my life. My father died when I was 13 and my mother when I was 19, so my brother and I had to find somewhere else to live for a bit, but three years later we moved back together into Langley High Street. Langley was a real village then: everyone knew each other, so being ‘naughty’ was out of the question; our parents knew about our escapades even before we got home! On the other hand, we also had lots of love and support from all the ‘aunts and uncles’, especially when my mother died.
The first school I went to was Horsemoor Green – the only Infants school there was in Langley at that time. All around where I live now was an airfield in those days.
Were you brought up by your parents as a Baptist?
Actually, my mother, although not a practising Christian, had a Church of England background, so I was baptised at St Mary’s Church. I started going to the Free Church because I had school friends who went there, so I went to Sunday School and then joined the Girls’ Brigade there. At that time the Baptist Church was in the High Street, where Bar H is now, overlooking the Memorial Park. It was just round the corner from home, which was helpful!
It was only in the 80s that the church decided to sell the property in the High Street and developed the current hall in Trelawney Avenue as the Langley Free Church (LFC). I stayed with LFC, because it had become my Christian family by then. The love that my family experienced after my father died and when my mother was ill was amazing.
What has been your involvement with LFC as an adult? You have given, and still give, so much to your church.
Yes, I am the longest serving member of the church, at 57 years of membership. It is a very friendly church, and very much a teaching church, both of which I love and I try todowhatIcan. Iwasadeaconofthe church for a long time, and the treasurer for 18 years. Currently my main responsibility is to organise the OASIS group sessions, when we have speakers and prayer time, every Wednesday afternoon, as well as serving on the Planning and Pastoral teams.
I understand that you ended up being Treasurer of several organisations.
When I left school I joined ‘Langley Alloys’ - one of the largest employers in Langley at the time, along with Pasolds – with factory near the station, between the railway and the canal. My job was payroll management and book keeping for them. I have always worked with numbers and so I am happy being a treasurer! Langley Grammar PTA and the Community Coffee Shop are other bodies I have served as treasurer.
I have also been involved in setting up a Toddler group, helping with a play group at the LFC, listening to reading and doing ‘cookery’ with children, being a dinner lady. So many people recognise me in Langley because of my contacts with children!
What about your family? Are they also committed Christians?
Colin and I were married in 1978 in the LFC although Colin, a Slough man, was used to attending St Paul’s. We had known each other at Langley Alloys. We have two sons, Mark and Andrew, both married now and living not far away and between them have given us four grandchildren, aged between 8 and 2 years. Needless to say, looking after the grandchildren is a high priority for us now and takes up a lot of our time. Colin started getting involved in LFC after our marriage and later became a member; both sons and their families are active members of Baptist churches where they live.
It is obvious that your faith is absolutely central in your life. Will you tell us something about it?
When I was 11 years old, at a Children’s Mission, I made my own decision to become a Christian. And then when my mother died, leaving my brother and me, I was given Psalm 27:10 at the funeral: ‘Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.’ I felt this to be a promise by God and so it has proved. Time and time again, when we have had difficulties in life, serious family illnesses, for example, I have always felt supported by the Lord and have come through.
Thank you so much Ann, for sharing your life story with us.
Comments