Cranbrook - a profile
There are new Bibles and new hymn books on the new chairs at Cranbrook Congregational Church, Kent.
The Bibles are the New International Version and the hymn books are Songs of Fellowship.
The neat, tidy premises are set at a strategic point in the main street of the historic town.
Young people use the front of the building as an informal meeting place, and on Monday evening the doors are opened so that they can come in out of the cold and wet. For a church keen to engage with new and hopefully younger people. it is a significant gesture, not to invite teenagers to get involved, but as a first step to help them to see the church as a community of welcome. Christian youth worker Michael Hammond, from a youth Trust, is on hand.
Looking at this scenario from a commercial point of view, say you were selling houses, holidays or shoes, you would have to think that the location was definitely promising.
But add that the church is led by a world-wise, God impassioned man and his fashion-bright wife, long experienced in professional social care, and you must think: this is potentially a winning enterprise.
There's more: a small dynamic congregation is wholly committed to prayer. There are people among them of great generosity, so that the cause is not constantly having to fret for funds.
So a great deal is going for Cranbrook, more than for many a struggling fellowship. The church was led until his health failed in 2008 by Rev Peter Larcombe, who for 13 years was also the Congregational Federation South East Area minister.
I came away from Cranbrook convinced that if ever a church was poised for growth and influence in the things of God's Kingdom in the 21st Century this is it. The fellowship here has survived difficult times in recent years, with differences about theology and leadership, even to the point of considering closure. But as with a number of small Federation churches, Cranbrook prayed and trusted a way through nights of doubt and sorrow, until signs of dawn appeared. And now there are several.
With a membership of 12, the church summoned Ken Chapman from retirement in November last year to take on part-time leadership. "Aged 65 I thought I was too old, and that the church needed young leadership. But God's call was insistent," he says.
A career heating and ventilation engineer, Ken had trained for ministry at Spurgeon's College, London.
'It was a struggle,' he recalls. I am not an academic, and study at that level was hard work.' His wife Rosemary was a social services care manager with Kent County Council, and she was fully behind his decision to take on leadership at Tenterdon Baptist Church for almost ten years.
He endured a health breakdown which they thought might end hopes of further ministry but Cranbrook swam into view, and they said 'OK Lord, we'll do it.'
Historic it may be, but Cranbrook (pop 5,000) is what these days defines affluence. The railway station has a vast car park where a flood of commuters park their nice cars every day to herd the cash cows of London. Cranbrook school (fees circa £10,000 a year) is well subscribed, and hugely popular along with other private schools in the area. Hence property is expensive.
Churches Together in Cranbrook is resurfacing after a moribunnd period. There is a new evangelical vicar and an approachable Roman priest. A charismatic church called The Vine used the Congregational premises for a time, but has moved on and keeps its distance. Ken is keen for the churches to work together, and plans are for more united witness.
The service I attended had a congregation of 12, but key people were away, not least the church secretary, Pat Newton (recently arrived in the area, and happily willing to take over from Joan Hill, who held the office for 22 years) And treasurer David Pearson on business in the Bahamas. A working organ is lodged in the gallery, but Neville Gibbs, who used to play it, has retired now. Rosemary played the piano and also led us in a prayer marathon which embraced general election candidates, the local council and traders wrestling with car park charges, responsible banking, and people who were not well, or unhappy.
Rosemary rejoices with Ken in their two grown children, both active Christians, and five grandchildren. When I visited them they were celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary having met when they were both youth workers at a Baptist church at Purley, Surrey. They enjoy life together in the splendid Cranbrok Church manse, which was recently totally refurbished at a cost of £36,000.
The service took 90 minutes, and afterwards coffee and biscuits were offered from a newly-built servery. The place is well used by a preschool group in large hall, and for meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous.
An excellent history by Daphne Russell, says the 'dissenting Chapel' has been a lively feature of the Cranbrook community, with many different ministers.
As people become disillusioned with the false promises of happiness in a materialistic world, it will still be a power house of faith and hope for our generation, and well into the future.