This December, the Medway played host to a truly special gathering as parishioners arrived to mark Audrey Johnson’s 100th birthday. Her daughter, Liz, had arranged the get-together, supported by friends of the parish who had kindly helped set up the Medway. The room looked wonderful, laid out invitingly with tea, coffee, and treats, with the birthday cake taking pride of place.

It was a day defined by connection. One by one, friends arrived to greet Audrey, sharing a smile and a word with the new centenarian. Audrey was particularly grateful that Fr Adrian was able to attend, adding a spiritual warmth to the occasion. While Liz was there to ensure everything ran smoothly, Audrey spoke with deep affection for her wider family; she is a proud grandmother and great-grandmother, and that joy was evident to everyone she spoke with.

Audrey is a woman of great humility and certainly didn't broadcast her past achievements to the room. However, Liz made sure to share the details with me so that they could be properly recorded here. We learned that Audrey was once a nationally recognised music teacher with a gift for drawing the best out of her students. Years ago, while living in Cape Town, she served as Choral Director of a choir so accomplished that they were chosen for the distinct honour of singing for the Queen Elizabeth 2 when the iconic ship berthed in the city.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for. A hush fell over the room as the cake was brought forward, topped with a single candle representing a century of life. One particularly lovely photo in the montage captures the split second where Audrey drew in her breath - gathering the strength of ten decades - before blowing the candle out in a single go. It was a small action that spoke volumes about her enduring spirit.

Following the applause, the focus shifted to the cake itself. A friend of Liz had baked it with love, but looking at the crowd, a small worry set in - it didn’t look like there would be enough to go around. Liz hoped for a small Christmas miracle. And, in the spirit of the season, that is exactly what they got.

Perhaps it was the way the slices were cut, or perhaps it was just the Medway’s own "loaves and fishes" moment, but not only was everyone fed, there was half a cake left over at the end.

A heartfelt thank you must go to everyone who attended and to the parishioners who worked behind the scenes to make the Medway look so lovely. Your presence turned a birthday into a memory, wrapping Audrey in the warmth of the community she holds dear. It was a perfect day - good company, unexpected abundance, and a very happy 100th birthday for Audrey.

Message from Liz - Audrey Johnson’s daughter - I really appreciate all the hard work the Friends of the Parish put into today. God Bless x