CHURCHES were once a vital part of life in our communities.

Most families had links to one church or another and their social lives, as well as worshipping, was connected to the building.

Lesley Worsley got in touch to tell Looking Back readers about her own church, Noble Street Independent Methodist Church off Derby Street.

This church, explains Lesley, had two days when the congregation walked.

“On Sermon’s Queen Crowning Day we walked with a Scottish pipe band all round the area.

“The new Sermon’s Queen would be crowned in a ceremony that followed the walk.

“Usually a week later was Sermon’s Day when we walked again,” she explains.

The “new Queen” and all her retinue, as well as singers dressed in white, children and adults from the Church and Sunday School would gather for the walk, says Lesley.

There would be three services on Sermon’s Day.

“Both my eldest daughter and I were Sermon’s Queen at Noble Street Church.”

Lesley’s mother was a queen at Claremont Baptist Church in St Georges Road.

“We loved walking,” she says and describes the excitement felt by the children as they prepared for the big day.

“It was very hard work for the adults I’m sure.”

Noble Street has just celebrated its 149th Sunday School Anniversary recently.

“But unfortunately we don’t walk anymore.

“ I was only reminiscing with someone else at the service when Mum passed me your article about walking and sermon’s days,” she adds.

There are churches where walking is still a tradition that is continued but it is dying out in other churches in the area.

It was a chance for families to get together and share a special day with other members of the congregation.