Wiveliscombe Evangelical Congregational Church

From childhood I had always believed in God as a remote but benevolent old man in the sky somewhere.

I had been taken to an Anglican Church and Sunday School and had learnt all the usual Bible stories. Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection was just another of those stories. My knowledge stopped at Easter and I knew nothing of the personal side of the sacrifice that He had made for me.

I married in 1968 and two years later my husband and I emigrated to Australia where our two children were born in 1971 and1973. I suffered severe post-natal depression - probably not helped by extreme home-sickness and was consequently prescribed strong anti-depressants. After a while these still didn't help, and I was sent to hospital for a weeks sedated rest.

During this week, a person I took to be a church visitor (no dog collar) stopped by for a chat, mentioned his church and invited me to go along one Sunday with the family. It was appealing because, as he explained, there was no church building - they met in the vicarage lounge and always had coffee and sometimes lunch together. My gentle visitor turned out to be the vicar!

It was through the love of the people there and their kindness and support that I learnt about the personality of Jesus and that He is with me right into my heart. Eventually, I had no need for anti-depressants. It didn't happen overnight, no blinding revelations and there have been many steps backwards, but He is still there. It is me who wanders off and He comes to get me every time.

God bless.

Judith (Donald), trained as an occupational therapist  and has worked in various health related jobs over the years. Well known in the town, Judith has made a real contribution to the music within the church.