Page 12 - Grapevine 62 FINAL

God’s different gifts at different times
through the then Rector, Symon Beesley, and his
strong teaching. He drew many to a personal
commitment to Christ, including myself.
It was a church filled with people many of
whom had served abroad – something that
seemed so far from my destiny.
Our faith was really stirred up and we
were soon very strongly drawn into church
life, particularly to the children’s and young
people’s work.
Going wrong
Sadly that was when things started to go
wrong between us and we parted. I was
devastated and it was a couple of years before I
could find my feet again.
My faith, however, was not knocked and I
was aware of God’s presence in all the sadness.
I don’t condone marriage breakups, but when
they do occur I believe it’s better if communication
can still be maintained as in our case.
Christine was able to With her infectious enthusiasm Finding support
hold fast in faith CHRISTINE BOULTON-LANE continues
Photo: Ben Clayton Symon and Dorothy Beesley were a wonderful
to make a lively contribution to local example and were very supportive.
church life and to Loaf Project, as As church secretary I would go to the
well as to the Hastings Sierra Leone rectory in Quarry Hill in the mornings to do the
Friendship Link. She has however secretarial work and join them for their lunch.
known times of shock and sadness as I was surrounded by amazing people who
well as encouragement. remain close friends today.
I was born in Dulwich, brought up in I then went to work full-time for Christopher
neighbouring Beckenham with my older Langdon, a local solicitor and friend. At
brother, and went to a Catholic Convent around this time I met Richard, who went on
boarding school. to become a partner in the practice. Our first
My teenage years were full of live music meeting, however, was on the badminton court
and musicians, some of whom went on to – rather than Hastings County Court.
be famous including David Bowie and Peter Richard was educated at a Quaker school
Frampton. near York Minster. He began coming to St
I became a secretary in a publishers, part Leonard’s parish church.His faith really became
of the William Collins group. It was a good ‘switched on’ and he was confirmed.
company to work for and I enjoyed it. It was at We were married in 1986 so this year we
work that I met my first husband. celebrated our 32nd anniversary. It’s hard to
We bought a flat in St Leonards. believe.
I am the treasurer of the Loaf project and
Church connection have been involved in Loaf since it started.
Our first church connection here was through It has been an exciting adventure working
our younger son Paul attending St Leonard’s with our chairman, Dr John Geater whose
Church of England primary school. enthusiasm and vision has rubbed off on me
We were attracted to the parish church and the others on the team.
12 GRAPEVINE
THE DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE… LOCAL PEOPLE’S FAITH IN ACTION
Beyond boundaries Enjoying work
We have been aware that the Lord calls us to I have enjoyed every job I have ever done. I’m
go beyond our church boundaries. He stretches still in paid employment one day each fortnight
us. One of the outcomes has been the Hastings in a florist shop in Bexhill, dealing not only
Sierra Leone Friendship Link. with happy occasions but also those who are
From the start I developed a love affair with bereaved.
Hastings in Sierra Leone (Grapevine 60). I love the Our grandchildren are either at boarding
people and working with the community there. school or taking a gap year and we are
Richard and I have visited many times redundant now in that area. The Lord
and are making it ‘home’ for more of however has encouraged our love
the year in the future by building a ‘We are for Sierra Leone. We are also
house in the village. building a able to work with those less
I now realise how much I had fortunate in our town and with
learned from those who had house in Sierra Hastings Borough Council in
returned from working abroad to Leone’ various ways.
St Leonard’s all those years ago. I have been deeply affected
by the sad parts of my life, but I
Another shock believe that life is amazing and that
I had suffered a major blow when my marriage we can totally trust in the Lord to lead us
broke up and I was to suffer another big shock through the darkness and rejoice with us in
when our elder son, Richard, was diagnosed the good times.
with leukaemia at the age of 24. Up to then Interview by Wallace Boulton.
he had been very healthy and played hockey at
county level.
It took two years to find a donor of
unmatched bone marrow. During that time he
had radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
After a vast amount of prayer and practical
help from the church family he pulled through The Manor House, Penhurst, Nr. Battle,
and, after the transplant, went back to work. East Sussex TN33 9QP
tel: 0845 458 0602
In 1995 the leukaemia returned. Before email: info@penhurst.org.uk
he could undergo stem-cell treatment he web www.penhurst.org.uk
sadly contracted an infection from a platelet
donation. He died six months later aged 29. Open to all who wish to seek God’s peace.
This Christian retreat centre offers a welcoming family
God’s timing home environment in a setting that is remarkable,
The Lord does do miracles and answer prayer, peaceful and beautiful. The house can sleep up to 12
guests and cater for day groups of up to 25.
but not always in the way we want. My son
was taken; this was God’s timing. He knows
better than we do and we should not be
demanding. Not all are healed.
We never have all the answers. God gives
them in small parts. I was able to hold fast in
faith knowing I was in his hands.
An excellent venue for individual or small group
The Lord gives us different gifts at different residential retreats, individual quiet days, group away
times. I have now been led into working with days etc. We also have a programme of led retreats
the chaplaincy team at the Conquest Hospital and workshops available.
by enabling a group of mainly young Christian Contact the wardens for further details or to book.
doctors to meet in our home.
GRAPEVINE 13