Finchley Inter Church Women’s Luncheon Club

The luncheon club was founded in September 1965 by a group of Christian women who decided that there should be a regular opportunity for women of all Christian denominations (CE, RC and Free Churches such as Methodists, Baptists, URC etc) to get to know each other and to learn more about each other’s churches.

In those times, many married women did not go out to work and it was agreed that the middle of the day was the most suitable time to meet. It was decided to hold lunches on the third Monday of alternate months – January, March, May, July, September and November in St Mary at Finchley’s Church Hall in Hendon Lane.  Thus, a Luncheon Club was formed.

The club has celebrated 20^th, 25^th, 40^th, 50^th Anniversaries and is nearing it’s Diamond anniversary.  Numbers have varied from the heyday of over 100 members (and a waiting list), to around 50 today, from more than a dozen churches in the area.  Members are mainly of mature years, but we would welcome younger members, which might be possible now that working from home is changing the social mores.

We meet for lunch at noon followed by a speaker or have a quiz or enjoy conversation and finish by 2pm. We have an annual service and each year invite ministers from local churches to our pre- Christmas lunch. Lunch is a light, but wholesome fare, prepared by a team of members and costs £5.

The club’s constitution (rules) sets a clear framework for organisation. Each year a chairman is elected and chooses a charity to support. This year, The Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet has been chosen and members have visited it to see their work.

Members pay an annual subscription of £10 which covers insurance, use of the hall and administration costs. An Annual General Meeting is held in July to hear about the year’s activities, receive reports from the chairman, secretary, registrar, treasurer, catering co-ordinators and to approve the accounts, as well as to listen to suggestions about the future running of the club from the members.

We welcome people who are considering joining to come as guests to a luncheon meeting.

If you would like further information please contact the Secretary, Gladys Vendy (St Mary at Finchley church) gladysvendy7@gmail.com or call on 020 8446 2907.