That was the year when the former Paradise and Central congregations, which had come together in 1967, took up residence in a new building on the site of the 19 th Century Methodist school. Today you would not know that the church wasn’t always a warm-hearted family with a welcome for old friends and new faces alike. The new church building was grafted very successfully on to the old school buildi
ng, with the result that there is ample space for the many community activities which go on regularly, while the worship area itself is light and airy, unplastered facing-brick walls now beautifully adorned with colourful banners made, and displayed in rotation according to season and topicality, by members of the church. For the grand occasions there is a large crush hall with a partition which can be opened to accommodate extra visitors.The sense of family is reinforced by the variety of weekly activities which have been a regular part of the church’s life: Rainbows, Beavers, Cubs, Brownies, Scouts and Guides meet to engage the enthusiasm and energy of youngsters from 6 to 16-plus (plus a good many years in some cases!); Ladies’ Fellowship and Ladies’ Circle, clubs for retired gentlemen and Adults (where retired gentlemen are also admitted if they behave themselves!); a Toddlers’ group meets two mornings a week, and we have an Orchestra and a Music Society. The premises are also used from time to time by local societies for special occasions such as Carnival and Victorian Day. Sunday services attract over 50 worshippers at the 10.45am service while the 6.00pm service has a smaller nucleus but offers an opportunity for quiet reflection.Since the initiative launched by Conference in 2000, we have taken “Our Calling” as a serious commitment to review our practices on a continuous basis. We have set up working parties to consider issues of Worship, Learning and Caring, Property and Service; these have endorsed much of what was already going on but we are also looking for ways to move with the times. CCLI licensing allows for the many and varied ways in which worship can be shared through sound and vision. Hymn words, Bible readings and prayers can be displayed, along with any other pictures, text, music or sound a preacher might wish to employ. Bible Study is offered regularly in the homes of our Congregational members. Celebration Praise, on Saturday evenings, is a very informal (and popular) alternative worship style which takes place five or six times a year. Additional special services have been successfully held which have drawn local school children and bereaved families into the church family.What of the future? We have a vibrant music group and are now continuing our Alpha course during 2012.Want to know more? ask for a copy of our Contact magazine, or come and worship with us; you will receive a warm welcome!
