On Sunday the 2nd of November 2014, St Michael and All Angels Catholic Church, situated in Farnborough, celebrated its Golden Jubilee. After being built in 1964 and withstanding many a parish priest (the most recent being Father Alan Burgess), St Michael’s Church held a celebratory mass for its devoted parish at 10:30 am. A warm welcome was given to former parish priest, Father Paul, Councillor Stephen Carr and Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark who was joined by his secretary Father Phillip Glandfield. It was the Archbishop’s first visit to St Michael’s which was celebrated, alongside the 50 year anniversary of the church, by the laying of a celebratory plaque.
Finula Fisher, a long-standing member of the parish exclaimed how it was “lovely to see everyone celebrating 50 years of the church being built. It was a very large turn out and I managed to catch up with a few old friends who I hadn’t seen in a while”. When asked about her own memories of the church, Finula replied “It’s a big part of our lives; I have been attending this church with my daughters ever since they were born. My eldest got married here over 20 years ago and still attends regularly with her children”.
After the mass, the parish congregated outside its beloved church in a marquee where food and drink were served.
Charlotte Creamore, Newstead Wood School
