Ladies Groups @ St Thomas' Church
There is a long established Ladies group and the younger ladies group - STYLE (St Thomas' Young Ladies Enterprise) both of which meet monthly, the ladies meet not just to raise funds for the church but also socially, as new friends are made in our church.
STYLE
STYLE is a community group which meets on the first Tuesday of each month (except August) at 7.30 p.m. in the church choir vestry or via Zoom in the winter. To date, they have hosted various community events including Rock 'n' Roll bingo family nights; very popular clothes parties where people can buy high street named fashion at very low prices; various live music nights; bake-off events; childrens' Christmas parties; held sales of Easter and Christmas items; organised community family fun days; arranged exclusive Christmas fairs to which local craft-makers and businesses were invited to have stalls to sell their goods/services; organised a community pantomime; held royal afternoon tea dances to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee and King Charles III's Coronation with live music from Calderdale Big Band and Geoff Atherton's Jazz Quartet; and have attended various community events to promote the church and the groups. During Covid-19 restrictions, the Group embraced technology ia monthly Zoom meetings and held summer and Christmas virtual fairs on Facebook. A "STYLE Fundraising Group" page was set up which enabled local businesses and craftmakers to sell their goods via the page and STYLE sold Christmas items and ran various fundraisers. Future events are currently being organised.
In November 2021, STYLE set up a 'Coffee and Conversation' Group for people aged 50 and over (although all are welcome) in the Church Community Hall. This was a 6-week project funded by the National Lottery's Amibition for Ageing through Forever Manchester. The group continues to meet each Thursday between 1 and 3 pm and all are welcome. (See the Coffee and Converation page.)
STYLE also like to socialise. Some of their activities have included attending various theatre and cinema shows, watching live musical acts, enjoying spa weekends, cocktail making evenings, meals out, attending the annual Comedy Night in aid of the Scouts group, salsa dancing and Christmas celebrations.
STYLE also support charities. The ladies have taken part in Dr Kershaw's Colour Blast Runs and Hospice to Hospice Walks, have collected underwear for Smalls for All (to assist young girls and ladies in Africa) and make-up for vulnerable ladies, hold annual Macmillan coffee mornings, support charity activities undertaken by the uniformed groups, raise funds for other charites (in 2021 Children in Need, Dr Kershaw's Furnish with Love Appeal, SEEDS, Kerala) and some of the ladies have undertaken individual challenges to raise funds for Dr. Kershaw's Hospice, Cancer Research, Young Epilepsy Maggie's and Marie Curie. We also support St Thomas Church Moorside.
New members are always welcome and you don't need to attend church to join one of the groups.
For further details contact Corinne Ogden on 0161 989 2602.
Facebook pages: STYLE St Thomas' young ladies enterprise and STYLE Fundraising Group and Coffee and Conversation - St Thomas Community Hall.
Here is a selection of the fundraising events that STYLE have held.
