Those who know me know I often struggle to drag myself out in the evening, but I was so pleased I made it to the St Mary’s Men’s Curry Night held at the church. We began the evening on the decking outside the church hall, which gave everyone a chance to arrive, catch up, and meet people from across the different congregations. From there, we moved into the hall to enjoy an amazing homemade curry together.
The heart of the evening was simple but important: brothers in Christ sharing food, conversation and fellowship. There was a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and it was encouraging to see men from across the church family taking time to be together.
After the meal we heard from Dr Andrew Nicholls, Director of Student Pastoral Care at Oak Hill College and a former doctor. Andrew spoke on Men, Mental Health and Faith, giving us a thoughtful Christian and biblical perspective on some of the mental health challenges men face.
It was an excellent and very relevant talk. Andrew helped us think honestly about the reality of anxiety, depression, stress and other struggles, while also pointing us back to the hope and wisdom we have in Christ. One of the striking reminders from the evening was that these challenges are not rare or distant; they affect many of us, including men in our church, families and friendship groups.
We then broke into smaller groups around our tables to discuss some of the questions Andrew gave us. As you might expect, we were perhaps a little slow to start sharing how we felt. But as the conversations warmed up, it was genuinely encouraging to hear men speak with honesty, humility and care. There were some wonderful insights shared about the struggles people face, how they are dealing with them, and how we can better support one another as Christian brothers.
For me, the evening was a reminder that fellowship is more than simply being in the same room. It is about making space to listen, to encourage, and to walk alongside one another. The curry and conversations were excellent.
I left feeling thankful: thankful for those who organised the evening, thankful for Andrew’s wise and compassionate teaching, and thankful to be part of a church family where men can gather, eat, laugh, reflect and speak honestly together. I will definitely be dragging myself out for the next men’s evening.