Carol from St Hilda’s in Redcar shares her story and how Stepping Up was not what she expected

I had grown up in the Christian faith as a member of the Baptist Church, attending Sunday School and various church organisations like Girls Brigade. However teenage years saw a falling out with God and a huge chasm opened between us.

Many years later when getting married I reached out to God again (and He was there waiting after all that time), and my husband and I celebrated our marriage in church. After a house move and the birth of my second child, I was introduced to a new local church for her baptism. I knew as soon as I attended the first service that God was there for me. Over the next 20 years I was a central member in the life of that church, running various groups and clubs, serving, church warden, and PCC member.

After retirement and a move to Redcar I visited many local churches but couldn’t replicate that same feeling. Until the new St Hilda’s opened and I knew this was my new home. Since then I have been a regular attendee and am working as part of the team to make St Hilda’s open to the community, as a place where everyone is welcome and open to the Holy Spirit.

When I was first asked if I was interested in joining Stepping Up I was very apprehensive. It was many years since I had been an academic and essays, assignments and reading, reading, reading filled me with dread.

However I took up the challenge, and I was totally wrong.

The learning community is interesting, thought provoking and enlightening, and you get to meet some wonderful people, who all think, like you, that they’re not worthy to be there. The group has given me a greater insight and understanding into the way we worship, and I have a clearer understanding of what works for me and what doesn’t, and don’t feel guilty about it.   

I feel my faith journey has already progressed, and am eager for our second term to begin, to learn more about what God has in store for me next.