Guides

 
Meetings are at Trinity church hall
Seniors meet at 7.30 pm on Mondays
Brownies Meet at 6.15 pm on Mondays
Rainbows Meet at 6.00 pm on Tuesdays
 

Boys Brigade

 
Meetings are at Trinity church hall
Company and Seniors section meet at 7.30 pm on Fridays
Junior and Anchor section meet at 6.15 pm on Wednesdays
Gymnastics team meet at 7.30 pm on Tuesdays
Band practice at 6.30 pm on Fridays
Gymnastics team – performs occasionally in public
Band parades occasionally in public
 

News and Magazine Items
about our Uniformed Organisations

Record Sponsorship for the Swimathon 

Trinity entered two teams of Brownie Guides (the Yellow Dolphins and the Yellow Sharks).  There were also two teams of grown-ups (Trinity Berries and Trinity Forresters).

Our swimmers collected a mighty total of £1064.35 from their sponsors.  The money will be divided equally between The Children's Adventure Farm Trust, East Cheshire Hospice, Buglawton Community Group (Sport for All), and Rotary Charities.

[from an article published in The Messenger, from Trinity]

'Guided Missiles' Hit Blackpool!

Trinity's Boys Brigade Gymnastics Squad visited Blackpool Tower to perform in the Annual North West Display, showcasing the best of talent in a varied programme presented by Boys Brigade companies in the North West of England. Congleton are invited annually to take part and supply the thrills to a combined audience of 1,000 over two performances

Gymnastics were once a staple Boys Brigade activity but a general lack of instructors and dedicated boys means that Congleton is one of the few companies in the country that can still turn out a demonstration display.  Long hours of practice over a three month period by the twelve-strong squad, most of whom were under 12, were repaid on the day with a sparkling display which drew gasps of surprise, cheering and prolonged applause for two brave performances. The instructors were worried as ever that preparations had not produced the finished article but were delighted at the way the lads rose to the challenge on the day.

The compère dubbed the squad the 'Guided Missiles' and they lived up to it!  To vault in various ways over a box higher than yourself takes nerve, skill and confidence, and Trinity can be proud of these youngsters, who will improve even more in the future.

We returned to Guides after the summer break to be overwhelmed by the arrival of 11 new Guides, when we were only expecting 5.  This gave us a total of 27 Guides in the company.

We have four people to lead and help but we do need more help, e.g. helping the Guides through their tasks for the evening or shopping for resources.  Can you lend a hand?  You don't need to come along to every meeting.  Please contact Liz Edmunds: contact details can be obtained from our Circuit Superintendent Minister, Philip Berry.

Here is a flavour of what we do, taken from our Autumn programme. 

• Harvest Festival Service – created a collage on 'seeds'

• International Peace Day – created a Peace Wall

• Bowling – a task towards a Leadership Scheme qualification for one of our junior leaders 

• Media activities – present our own 'TV programme' for a night.

• Bonfire Night – in fancy dress

• 'Go For It' – each girl works through her choice using themed activity resources

• Christmas – make Christmas crafts/cards to take to Park Lane Care Home.  

• Christmas – Provide entertainment for Park Lane Care Home with sketches and musical interludes

Boys Brigade Minibus got too old

The previous Boys Brigade Minibus was a much used vehicle. Not only was it used for Boys Brigade activities but it was also used to transport children from school to after-school clubs and was used almost every Sunday to bring some of the more elderly members of the congregation to Trinity church.

Over the years the old bus became increasingly cranky: endearing to some but infuriating to others.  And it was never designed to comply with modern safety standards.  The annual cost of maintenance became seriously high: roughly £2,000.  The advice from the garage was that it should be scrapped.  It was the end of an era.

A New Boys Brigade Minibus

The minibus was in need of replacement and the BB had to raise funds to buy a newer model.  One potential source of funding was the Lottery Commission.  However, they would only contribute towards a brand new vehicle, which would cost a considerable sum of money.  And the funding application takes quite some time to process.  

Meanwhile, since things became urgent, a used replacement vehicle was acquired at a  cost of £2,255.  It is hoped that this will tide us over until funding can be raised for the real thing.    

A Glen Draper concert raised £725.  That sum was kindly matched by Barclays Bank.  Other contributions came from BB funds and the Trinity Ladies Club.