OPENING OF SPECIAL MEMORIAL GARDEN
It was Celebration Time at the E.U. Church in Bellshill on Sunday 1st June 2008, as the Congregation joined the Sunday School & Bible Class at a very special Dedication Service, to mark the official opening of the Sunday School & Bible Class “North Lanarkshire Challenge” Memorial Garden.

The garden was opened by one of our older members Miss Sadie Kelly (Seated in the far left of 1st picture) who is a very special lady, and a great support to everyone in the Sunday School & Bible Class. Sadie was also a Sunday School Leader for many years. Mr Eddie Smith the “North Lanarkshire Challenge” Co-ordinator (standing far right of group picture wearing a black shirt) also very kindly accepted our invitation and attended the Dedication Service, Eddie congratulated the children on their achievement, and all the hard work they had done over the last few months to make this beautiful Memorial Garden.

The E.U. Church Sunday School & Bible Class are the first Sunday School & Bible Class to take part in the “North Lanarkshire Challenge”, which is a recognised award scheme run by North Lanarkshire Council, and is designed for children between the ages of 8 – 14, who are not yet old enough to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, allowing them to have a similar experience, which may encourage them to join the Duke of Edinburgh Award at a later date.

As well as designing, planning and making the Memorial Garden, which was part of their skills section of the award, the children have also to complete 8 hours of physical activities and an Adventure Walk. After completing all three sections successfully, the children will receive their North Lanarkshire Challenge Award Certificates, at their annual Prize Giving Service which will be held in the church on Sunday 29th June 2008.

Pictured at the back of the next picture from left to right are Elizabeth Riddell (Bible Class Leader), Carol Murray and Elaine Gatenby (Sunday School Leaders). The children are (Back row) Callum (Bible Class) and front row left to right are Ellie, Chelsea, Craig and Gail & Hazel from the Sunday School. Unfortunately due to illness three of our participants Dale (Bible Class) and Hannah & Aaron (Sunday School) couldn’t be with us at the service, but they have also worked hard on our garden project. As you can see in the picture we have a couple of children under 8 years old, but we don’t believe in excluding anyone, so they still participated and will be given a Mini North Lanarkshire Challenge Award.

The final picture shows what a beautiful Memorial Garden our children have created. We also have two lovely benches at the side of our garden, which were donated in memory of Mr Alexander Notman McKee, and Master Steven James Grant. On the wall behind the garden is our “North Lanarkshire Challenge” Memorial Garden Plaque, and we hope that in the future many more memorial plaques will be placed on the wall in memory of our members, family, friends and loved ones who are no longer with us.

We are so proud of what the children have achieved especially as it was them who choose to make this a memorial garden that everyone could share for many years to come. So if you’re ever passing by our church in Bellshill, please drop in and rest a while at our garden, and we hope it will bring you as much peace, joy and contentment as it does to us.

Elaine Gatenby
Secretary, Bellshill EU Congregational Church