Up to 70 people many of who may have been on their own were treated to a Christmas Day lunch with all the trimmings – and company – at a Suffolk church.
The traditional offering for the community to make sure no one was isolated or alone on Christmas day was held at St Luke’s Church Centre, Rigbourne Hill, Beccles, where men and women of all ages came together for a festive lunch.
This has been an annual event for many years where the church supports the community, although during the recent Covid pandemic there was a team of volunteer drivers who took the meal to people’s homes. However, volunteers were again on hand to deliver 10 meals into the community on Christmas Day.
The Ven Rich Henderson, Archdeacon of Suffolk, said: “Week in week out, a team of volunteers work hard in meeting the needs of other across Beccles and the surrounding area. The annual highlight of the commitment and dedication of the team is Christmas Day lunch, where all gather for food, fellowship, and fun, thank you to all who make this possible.”
Phil Cudmore, Associate Priest for Beccles with Worlingham, North Cove & Barnby, said: "Hospitality is a key value in Beccles Parish so there has been an open invitation for anyone to come on the day. Diners included people we have met through our Parish Pantry pop up shop or the Food Bank, some who come along to our weekly lunch club, and some from our church communities. This is a community lunch and we have always been very fortunate in receiving financial support from Beccles Lions and the Beccles Townlands Charity, and we could not do it without the help we receive from volunteers from both church and local community. They shop, prepare the food, cook, clear tables, wash up, make table decorations, and pack teas, not to mention ferrying people to St Luke's and home again".
After the meal there were Christmas songs with more refreshments and then each diner took home a sandwich tea, with Christmas cake, a fruit pie, a piece of fruit and a little gift.
The festivities were visited by the Bishop of Dunwich, the Rt Revd Dr Mike Harrison, who was delighted to offer support and thanksgiving.
Bishop Mike said: "While Christmas is so often a time for community, family and celebrating relationships, Christmas Day in particular is one of those times when the isolated, the bereaved and the alone can feel especially separated from human community. So it was wonderful on Christmas Day to be with the good people of St Luke’s Beccles and share a meal at lunchtime with those who were alone or in one way or another unable to celebrate themselves. I hope this was a memorable Christmas for them all".