News from the Churches

It started in a stockyard field
Rev John Taylor writes:
Penge Congregational Church Centenary: 2008 is the centenary of the founding of our Church, when members of Anerley Congregational Church in South East London, planted a church in "Stackyard Field" which was in the parish of Battersea.

The first church building was of corrugated tin, situated on the corner of High Street and Kenilworth Road, Penge. The first church called itself "Anerley Independent Guild". The first minister, Rev Ernest Barson came to the church in 1909 and remained until 1948. Soon the church was too small for the increasingly large congregation and it was agreed to hold a competition to design a new church. This was won by Percy Morley Horder the son of an eminent hymnologist, Garrett Horder, and the "Penge Cathedral" was built, firstly the Kenilworth Hall in 1911 and the Church in 1912.

We are arranging a number of events to commemorate the centenary and especially invite people who might be in the South London area to a Centenary Celebration Service on Saturday June 14 at 3pm followed by tea.

Singers collect

Thatch Day
Members of the Roxton Church (East Midlands Area) are celebrating their 200th church anniversary. Bernard Hooker writes that the unique thatched chapel will be open for visitors on May 31, 200 years to the day since the first service was held in a converted barn in Roxton Park. A new history publication will be available with a commemorative mug. A special service will be held on Sunday June 1, led by Rev Chris Damp, of Bedford. This will be followed in the nearby parish hall by a buffet meal.

New church launched at Pennymoor

Ruth Green writes: A covenant service has been held for a new Congregational church at Pennymoor, Devon. It was led by Jill Stephens, South West Area Support Worker. Music was provided by a group from Crediton, and among those present were Greta and Nicola White (Area secretary and treasurer), Bill King (Chulmleigh and Witheridge), Colin Smallcombe, Area President-elect (Bow), David and Vivienne Bulley (Lapford), Andy Durkin (Tiverton), Ruth Morgans and Ron Grant (Normansland), Courtney and Margaret Grant (Poughill) and Colin and Julie Rowe (Crediton).

We all felt it was exciting that in this day and age we were starting a new church fellowship. Jill spoke from Jeremiah 29.11 - 'I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'.

We hope to be accepted into the Federation at the May assembly in Plymouth. I was presented with a Federation Minister's certificate by Greta White.

Bunyan on show
The John Bunyan Museum at Bedford opened for its 10th anniversary season on March 4. The museum is dedicated to the life and times of the famous preacher, pastor and author of the much loved book - The Pilgrim's Progress. Bunyan lived from 1628-1688 through some of the most turbulent times for religious freedom and Bunyan was imprisoned for refusing to stop preaching the Gospel. The museum tells the story of Bunyan, the early non-conformist movement and the times in which they lived and worked. It attracts visitors from all over the world, and will remain open until the end of October.

Wales welcomes Easter Youth conference
There was a warm welcome in the hills of Wales for the Congregational Federation Youth Easter conference. Some 29 young people attended the event at Rhosgoch, over Easter week end, for fun, prayer and discussion. Three from Taunton are pictured here through the camera of Andrew Billington.

They are (right)Alison, Saffron (left), who was celebrating a birthday, and Kristi (centre).