St Columba’s Church was open on Saturday 13 September for its first Jigathon.  During the course of the day, participants managed to complete 17 jigsaw puzzles, and raised over £200 in sponsorship for church funds.

At the same time, the church was open for Heritage Open Days (www.hodstw.org.uk).  A slow trickle of visitors came to look round the building and see an exhibition of elements of the church’s past, present and future.  Displays included memories of World War 1, the church’s social landlord the Square Building Trust, Messy Church, Operation Christmas Child, and a rolling slide show of current activities.  One visitor, a keen photographer, took a great interest in our stained glass windows (which you can see on the gallery page of this website).  A group of children who had enjoyed jigsaw puzzling had a great search for church mice!  We found 5 of them, carved into our wooden church furniture – a whimsical trademark of “Mouseman” Robert Thompson of Kilburn.

All in all, it was an enjoyable day of opening the church to those interested in heritage and puzzling.