On Saturday 19th April 2025, The BRIDGES Centre in Edenbridge High Street held a celebratory coffee morning to mark the 30th anniversary of its launch back in April 1995. Visitors enjoyed an especially warm welcome and were treated to a birthday cupcake, baked and beautifully decorated by BRIDGES volunteer Janis Bennett. The building was brightly decorated with banners and balloons to showcase that there was a very special event taking place.
BRIDGES occupies the site of the old Ebenezer Chapel which closed in 1987. Its central location meant it was ideally situated for a much-needed community facility, so in 1992 a meeting was held, attended by over 30 local people, where it was agreed to purchase the building to create a centre for Christian service. In 1993 a trust was formed named BRIDGES and the whole community helped to raise £105,000 which paid for the building and the cost of repairs and refurbishment into a community centre. In April 1995 the building opened for three mornings a week, staffed with the help of 35 volunteers.
Two of the original founders, Dorothy and Ron Sutton, created a fascinating timeline to display in the building that tells the story of the BRIDGES Centre. The Centre’s full history can also be found by visiting www.bridgescentre.org.
Manager of BRIDGES, Mary Perrett, said: “Our anniversary coffee morning showed the real spirit of BRIDGES! It was very welcoming and friendly and we received lots of compliments. Everyone was pleased to be here and delighted with the cupcakes.”
Another special event will be held later this year to thank BRIDGES’ many volunteers and supporters. It is their willingness to give their time and donate money to the Centre that has kept this valuable facility open to serve the Edenbridge community.
Apart from being a meeting place where visitors can enjoy a coffee and cake or lunch with friends, the Centre offers a host of other activities for all ages. The Lego Club provides a fun activity for local youngsters and the Dandelion Café Creative Workshop for older adults brings out the inner artist in its participants each week. Other activities include a weekly knitting and crochet group, folk music, digital skills sessions and a debt advice service. The building is also available to hire to outside groups and organisations.
To make a donation to BRIDGES and for more information, including how to hire the premises, visit our website www.bridgescentre.org
– Contributor: Julia Church
