There was plenty of laughter, encouragement and friendly competition as 32 members and friends of Christ Church Sowerby Bridge came together for a memorable Church Social Afternoon at Hillcrest Bowling Club.
For many of those taking part, it was their very first experience of crown green bowling. Experienced bowlers and complete beginners played side by side, creating an afternoon that was less about winning and more about enjoying each other's company, making new friendships and sharing in the life of our church community.
The event was played as a drawn pairs knockout competition, with every game being played in great spirits. After several closely contested rounds, the final saw Dave and Malcolm take on Millie and Diane. Both pairs played superbly, but it was Dave and Malcolm who emerged as this year's champions, receiving warm applause from everyone gathered.
As well as the bowling, everyone enjoyed a delicious bring and share buffet, with a wonderful selection of homemade dishes and treats. The shared meal provided another opportunity for conversation and fellowship, reminding everyone that some of the best moments of the afternoon happened away from the green as people sat together, chatted and got to know one another better.
The event was organised jointly by Garry Turner and Peter Henry on behalf of Christ Church, working alongside Ed Tinker and the team at Hillcrest Bowling Club to make the afternoon possible.
Friendly Competition and Wonderful Fellowship at Christ Church Bowling SocialA huge thank you goes to Hillcrest Bowling Club for their warm hospitality and for making everyone feel so welcome. We are especially grateful to Ed Tinker and all of the volunteers who gave their time behind the scenes to prepare the green, support the event and ensure everything ran smoothly. Their generosity and enthusiasm helped make the afternoon such an enjoyable success.
Revd. Tommy said:
"Church isn't only about what happens on a Sunday morning; it's also about building relationships, sharing laughter and enjoying one another's company. It was wonderful to see so many people trying something completely new, encouraging one another and simply having fun together. Events like this strengthen our church family, and I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make the day such a success."
Peter Henry, who serves on the Hillcrest Bowling Club committee and helped organise the event, added:
"It was fantastic to see 32 people come together, with so many trying crown green bowling for the very first time. The atmosphere throughout the afternoon was full of encouragement, fun and friendly competition, exactly what we hoped the event would be. Working with Garry Turner, Ed Tinker and the team at Hillcrest made organising the day a real pleasure, and seeing everyone leave with smiles on their faces was the greatest reward. We're incredibly grateful to Hillcrest Bowling Club for their hospitality and look forward to building on this partnership in the future."
The afternoon perfectly demonstrated the value of bringing people together outside of regular worship, creating opportunities to deepen friendships, welcome new faces and simply enjoy one another's company.
Congratulations once again to Dave and Malcolm on their victory, and thank you to everyone who played, brought food, supported the event and helped make it such a memorable day. We are already looking forward to the next Christ Church social event.
