Twenty-two young people between the ages of fifteen and eighteen, with their leaders Erika and Johan Jernberg, drove over to St Peter’s from Viney Hill Christian Activity Centre on 13^th August 2008 to spend an afternoon in the parish as part of the links between Gloucester diocese and the diocese of Västerås. 

The visit was arranged at very short notice; many of our own youth group members were away, torrential rain looked like blocking the projected walk along part of the Cotswold Way and everyone was worried about how well each other’s language would be understood.  However, the Swedes’ English turned out to be perfect, the clouds relented sufficiently for a short walk up to the “horse monument”, indoor games in the church captured the imagination, formed friendships (and friendly rivalries) and tea in the cottages set the seal on a very enjoyable and companionable few hours which had started with a prayer in each language.

Many thanks to the St Peter’s team – Paul Wilkinson, the entire Smallwood family, Anne Goodrich, Penny Piggott and, of course, our own youth club, the Rock Group.

Who knows where we go from here?  

Andrew Piggott, August 2008