Little Red Flyer (no Flick hasnt got another new scooter!)

As I posted the other day i issued a letter to all the local businesses explaining what our project was about and sure enough said letter is being discussed openly within the community with customers asking local shop owners what is going on

Some businesses have shared the content of the letter with their customers - interestingly word has got back to me that we are planning on putting a dome on the roof. I can confirm that this is not the case ;-)

Its good to know that there is an interest in what is going on and it certainly adds to my belief that we as a church have a real chance now to make an impact in the community if we rise to the challenge. We are now the focal point of the town its as simple as that.

The word on the street is that Oswaldtwistle needs a really good church, there is a belief certainly amongst Church going circles that people are looking for us now to be a stabilising influence an anchor that Christians can believe in and a place where true Christian values are represented.

I joined the church specifically because of our solid biblical teaching and fine children's work and I'm sure that others will see that in us.

CB

If your foundations are solid......

Excavation of the land is well under way. Several tipper loads of earth and assorted debris have been cleared to level the ground

CB

Whats happening this week

This week, the team are leveling the land off so that next week the piling rig can go on site. Also next week, temporary electricity supply will be added to alleviate the need for a diesel powered generator.

Also next week trenches will be dug out for water, gas and electricity supplies.

Q&A

Ive had a couple of businesses ask me some questions about the land

Q) Will there be parking on the site

A) Yes, there will be parking for church members on the site

Q) What is happening with the back passage between Pet Warehouse and the new church

A) The church own the back passage and plan to build a play area on half of its length, the other half will be part of the car park

Q) What sort of church will it be

A) We will be a community church as we always have been but our new facility means we will be able to have more activities for the community as well as church members

Q) What will it look like

A) Stone faced and Slate roof like neighbouring buildings. Its an attractive building with shrubs on the union Road Elevation.

If anyone has any more questions, please feel free to contact me

CB

No going back now - hold on tight !

There is a real buzz about the church at the minute and I'm fairly sure that the community at large are inquisitive as to what's happening. Certainly on my one off annual school run this morning there was plenty of banter about the new build.

And because I'm off work today I'm going to be canvasing our neighbours to let them know what is happening.

Its really important now that we keep in touch with not only our church members but also local home owners and businesses.

Must admit the sight of that HUGE digger on the land certainly impressed my 4 year old son but it brought home the scale of the project to me.

The ground is currently being turned over to level it out before the piling rig comes on to start the process of making the land ready for the steel skeletal frame to be but into place next month. Ive told them if they find anything of any value down there its going in the church building fund.

Incidentally talking of building funds Joan and I have worked out how to place a pay pal button on the blog just in case anyone fancies donating to the project.

CB

Site Secured

Yesterday the site was secured by fencing around its perimeter. Over the coming couple of weeks work will be undertaken to prepare the ground for building including piling works which will enable the steel skeletal frame to be built in mid October. By early November the basic frame should be in place and the process of building around and within it will commence.

Work to begin on new £500k Oswaldtwistle church

From the Lancashire Evening Telegraph : 15th September 2008

CONSTRUCTION is set to start on a new £500,000 church in the centre of Oswaldtwistle.
After more than a decade in the pipeline The Christian Institute, also known as the Melbourne Street Church, has appointed builders to construct the church in Union Road.
The site is just metres from the original chapel built 106 years ago in John Street.
The building, which will match the town's predominantly stone built, slate roofed buildings, is due to open in March 2009.
Members of the congregation began fundraising for the church in 2003.
And trustee of the church, Chris Brindle, said they were coming to the end of a ‘very, very long journey.’ Mr Brindle said: “It is really exciting.
“The new building is significant because it is unusual to have church in a town centre but a lot of people know the church and have family who come to it.”
Planning permission for the church was granted last year by Hyndburn Council.
The Christian Institute bought the derelict site in Union Road for £75,000 11 years ago.
In 2006 it sold the original site of the church in Melboure Street.
Members of the congregation currently rent Harvey Street Youth And Community Centre, Harvey Street, for services and children and youth activities.
The Union Road site will cater for more than 200 people.
Melbourne Street Church had a capacity of 70 people and Harvey Street Youth And Community Centre has room for up to 80 people.
Last month, Hyndburn Council approved plans to demolish the Melbourne Street church, with four three-bedroomed houses being built in its place

One last look

Its difficult to believe that we are finally starting to build. And perhaps even more difficult to imagine that over the next 28 weeks, thousands of man hours of work, 18 scheuled site meetings and no doubt numerous questions to be pondered upon and ancillery items to be sourced.

We should, by late autumn see the finished frame of the building in place before work starts to build in the roof and the walls. Next its time for electrical and mechianical installation, bathrooms, kitchens, IT equipment, floor coverings, blinds, chairs, baptistry, speakers and sound equipment and then most important of all............you !

What I propose to do with the blog moving forwards is to update it weekly with what is scheduled to happen in the week ahead and of course points for prayer.

For one last time Ladies and Gents - our land as we've known it for so long

The day the sun shone

With all the rain that has fallen it was going to be something of a minor miracle if we managed to get a couple of hours of sun for our pray on the land and sure enough God did not disappoint.

The whole church it seemed supported the project and after a quick song, bible scripture, pray and a virtual guided tour it was time to leave the land we had for so long prayed about.

Bring on the diggers !

Prayer on the land

We will be gathering on the land at lunch time on Sunday to give thanks before work commences. If you are a friend of Melbourne Street or just a curious passer by please feel free to join us.

I will be on hand to give 'virtual tours' of the build to give you an idea of the scale of the project

CB

Builders appointed - WORK TO COMMENCE 15/9/08

I can now confirm that I have this afternoon appointed Ibbotsons Building Contractors to build our new church on our land 309-317 Union Rd Oswaldtwistle.

Build is expected to take 28 weeks with work finishing late March 2009.

On behalf of the new build committee I would like to thank you for all of your prayers, we will continue to work with the architect and the builder to ensure smooth and timely delivery of the project.