Christ Church Moreton Hall

         I was born into a Christian family,  I went to Sunday school regularly as a child,  and I was confirmed in our local Anglican church as a young teenager. However, during my teenage years, the church I attended seemed to be totally out of touch and irrelevant to my life, and by the time I left home at the age of eighteen, I had become somewhat disillusioned. I gradually drifted away and filled my life with other things . I never stopped believing in God, but I decided that Christianity, and indeed any kind of   ‘organised religion’ was not for me. I had too many unanswered questions and for many years felt more comfortable sitting on the fence.

         About 15 years ago, when life was pretty difficult (to say the least) my son suddenly announced  that a friend of his sang in the local church choir and that he too would like to sing. My daughter also expressed a desire to go along to church to sing in the choir and before I realised it, I was attending church with my three children regularly every Sunday.  The amazing thing is that I really felt that I had ‘come home’.

         However, I still had the problem that I had had as a teenager. I felt that there was in some way a barrier between me and God and however hard I tried, I couldn’t break it. At this time a family friend invited us to go to Lee Abbey, a wonderful Christian centre in Devon, and for me this was the real turning point. I discovered a  kind of Christianity  that  was very different from anything I had previously experienced. I discovered that through the power of the Holy Spirit I could have a close personal relationship with God. This was a truly amazing experience and one which changed my life forever. Looking back I can now see that God was always there for me, patiently watching and waiting. There had been so many signs and pointers throughout my life, many  of which I hadn’t seen or had chosen to ignore.

         Since my first visit to Lee Abbey, my Christian faith has been central to my life and my faith has steadily grown. I discovered Christ Church and knew at once that this was where God wanted me to be. My faith has given me strength to face the most difficult and, what seemed at one time, impossible situations.

I have been blessed many times and recently God worked  the most amazing miracle in my life. Howard finding me and  coming back into my life after 30 years in Italy has been the miracle  I would have never dreamed was possible, and the fact that Howard has become a Christian has made this a double miracle!!  Our baptism three years ago was a truly special occasion and a great milestone in our lives and now we look forward with joy to the day when we will be married.