The shell of the new church centre on
Cromer Road is nearing completion as the final blocks get added to the walls, and the roof timbers are lowered into place. It will be fitted out with a 250-seat auditorium, meeting rooms, kitchen, and a vibrant cafe, so that it can be used by other community groups, as well as
Lighthouse Community Church.
“This centre won’t just be a church”, explained
Pastor Bryan Pickard, “but a superb modern facility for the benefit of the local community. We will be expanding our work with children and young people, and introducing a tea club for the more mature members of the community. We want this to be a place where Sheringham folk feel they can call in and be a part of”.
The project started when the folk at Sheringham Baptist Church went to view a replacement site for their crumbling premises back in December 2009. The site was purchased, planning permission granted, and building work commenced in December 2012.
The total cost of the project is expected to be around
£1.6m, including the original site purchase. This has been met by selling existing properties, grants, loans, giving by church members, and fund-raising activities.
“Raising that sort of money is pretty miraculous” said Pastor Bryan, “but that is down to God’s provision – We believe this is His plan, so He has enabled the funds to become available”.
The church is now raising finance to complete the fitting out, and to buy chairs! There have been a number of fund-raising events over the last couple of years, including table-top sales, book sales, a plant sale, Christmas Fayre, cosmetics evening, Barn Dance, Music Night etc, and the church will have a
cake stall in
Sheringham town centre on
May 4.
The next fund-raising event at the
Holway Road church is the annual
plant sale, which will take place on
Saturday June 1. This is the ideal opportunity to stock up on bedding, tomato plants, shrubs, indoor plants, etc. There will also be books, cakes and general stalls, and those who come along can enjoy a coffee.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the project should send an e-mail to
Chris Gould at
treasurer@sheringhambaptistchurch.co.uk
More information can be found on the church website :
www.sheringhambaptistchurch.co.uk
Or type
Sheringham Baptist Church new build into Facebook for up-to-date news.
All pictures are courtesy of
http://www.smg-architects.co.uk/