A View from the Photographer’s Lens – a reflection on Callum Anderson’s visit to Water Eaton Church Centre by Rachel Day.

Callum Anderson, MP for our constituency, was welcomed by several people from WECC, all of whom shared some of what is going on here at our church centre and out in the community. Callum was shown the outside of the building and updated on the building project; he was very keen, eager to ask questions to find out more.]

Then we gathered in the hall where Callum met Tim & Debbie, who run our community larder along with some of the volunteers. There was a display showing a selection of food that is offered and explained payment options. Tim and Debbie expressed how they started the larder and their passion to stop food waste, which I found inspirational. I encourage you to ask them about it. We are very fortunate to have them here at church. Listening made me realise that there is so much more to it than just giving food items away.

After that, everyone was seated to participate in a Weaving Trust exercise; we call it “fast friends,” where people got to know each other a little more. It was nice to see Callum and his colleague Hannah take part in this; there were lots of fruitful conversations and laughter!

Then they spent some time in conversation about an issue people had brought forward; this was around the communication from the MP’s office to the constituents. Callum got his notebook and was very keen to make notes and respond. He was very happy about working with the church to make some changes and agreed to come and meet the community here at WECC a couple of times a year. It was very encouraging that people were taken seriously and people felt heard, which was the main thing.

At the end, Mike, who looks after the garden, presented Callum with a plant and said a few words. It was a positive event all around; everyone did what they set out to do and had a positive reflection afterwards.

(Rachel, who is a member of the St.Frideswide’s congregation, was the official photographer for Callum’s visit on 17th July).