If you are a regular attender at church, or reader of the magazine, you have heard of our Space2Grow project. This is a re-ordering project with the idea of creating a more usable and practical space in our church building, whilst also providing essential facilities that are needed (indeed expected) in our world today.
It was after much prayer and many hours of meetings/deliberations that the PCC decided to proceed with these plans. Over the past 3 years the Lord has been teaching us to trust Him and at every turn, when humanly things might have seemed impossible, the Lord has made a way. Always in His perfect timing the doors have opened. Over that time the money has been coming in through fundraising events and through faithful and sacrificial giving of so many.
It was at Christmas that we were eventually granted full permission for phase 1 of the works, this coincided with a large donation that meant we had the funds required to carry out the works. So Sunday 12th January was our final Sunday in church before we moved into our temporary home, St. Margaret’s Academy, for our Sunday worship. We are grateful for the excellent relationship that we have with St. Margaret’s and for the use of the school whilst the building work at church takes place.
At the time of writing we are now 3 weeks into the planned works and things are going well. The pews have been removed and the raised plinths on both sides have been excavated. The flooring has been removed and the ground is being prepared for the concrete to be poured which will make a level area for the new oak flooring to be laid.
Two new toilets (with disabled access & baby changing facilities) will be built and a new raised dais (staged platform) will be installed making it easier for those leading services to be seen and heard. There will also be a new (removable) communion rail. This will mean there are no steps for anyone to negotiate when receiving communion, again making everything much more accessible.
It is with real excitement that we look forward to moving back into our ‘new’ church. However, as my sermon on 12th January said, we realise that these changes are not easy for everyone. Below is an extract from that sermon which I feel is important to share: (You can listen to the whole sermon via our church website)
‘Firstly, I hope there is an element of excitement in all of us as we prepare to move into this new venture. Let me explain why. Since 1837 (that’s 183 years) St. Anne’s has stood proud as a place of worship for those in this community. It has been a place where countless thousands have come to worship and sing God’s praise, it has been a place where those countless thousands have come to know the Lord and have been saved by his grace! It has been a place where so many generations have come to be married, baptized and it has been the place where so many have made their final earthly journey. It’s in all these major events in life, that St. Anne’s has played its part at being at the heart of peoples lives, it stands as the place where people have encountered God.
It has, by very definition, been a place of mission, speaking about God’s love and grace as over the 183 years it has touched peoples lives. Its stands as a place where the gospel has been, and is, preached in season and out, a place where countless Christian men and women have brought their gifts, both physical and financial, together to serve the Lord and to serve the people of this community and further afield. A place where the mission of God is lived out in action. If it hadn’t fulfilled that mission, it wouldn’t be here today. But it is here and its still going strong, more than that we are thriving and growing. And for that we give our thanks and praise to God. Over those years both the mission (and how that is lived out) and the building have changed significantly in order to fulfill what we are called to do. This building has continually been altered, some big changes and some little tweeks.
Those who have gone before us have played their part in handing on a building that is able to carry out God’s mission and now its our turn. To ensure that we fulfil the great commission that is set before us and to ensure that we leave a building fit for mission for the generations to come, so that St. Anne’s will continue to play its part in God’s mission for the next 183 years.
I realize that there are many today rejoicing but there are also some who are concerned about how things are going to turn out. Some for whom these changes bring anxiety. It’s important to recognize this very real emotion I want to acknowledge that. As I’ve just said, St. Anne’s holds a very special place in many peoples hearts and they are rightly concerned about its heritage and its future. Many who have invested so much of their time, talents and wealth into the church over so many years, and their families for generations before them. In this building is a real sense of steadfastness and stability, amidst an ever changing and fast moving world. The church stands as a stable place that isn’t swayed by the latest fashions and trends. It stands rooted in the tradition and the sure foot of Scripture and it’s a place where families have a connection with their past generations. So when the church is going through significant changes it brings with it a fear and anxiety that we might be losing something of our DNA. Please know that I am fully aware of this and I have wrestled with this myself. The works that are being undertaken are not done so lightly or without serious thought, and prayer.
Its good to look to our past and to rejoice in the things that have gone before. However, we can’t dwell in the past, on former glories because that’s what they are, former and past. The world moves on. The very real danger is that the church stays in the past and gets left behind.
The DNA of the church is mission. It’s always been about God’s mission in the world and that is what our Space2Grow project is all about. Equipping and providing for us a better space to fulfil that mission, that we might grow in number and in faith.
This project has the very DNA of the church at its core’.