I received the following email from the Charity Commission today
Dear Mr Brindle
Thank you for your letter regarding the above.
Pleased to confirm that we have updated the charity's records accordingly.
Please note this information will take up to five working days to transfer onto the public Central Register of Charities available for view on our website.
That's it, we are officially 'Union Road Community Church (Oswaldtwistle)' a new era begins. It will take a few weeks to update our records with the bank, Inland Revenue and so on but we have made the first and most important step to changing our identity.
Its a new start for all of us. Members and Friends old and new can now move forwards under the banner of a new entity.
CB
Saturday, 28 February 2009
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Blue + Pink = Grey
I thought that Joan and Sue were winding me up when they said the church roof was pink! It was bad enough when it was blue I know many of the congregation had to field questions from the locals and there was even talk of a petition in the town to object to a blue roof !
So you can imagine my consternation when I discovered that the roof had indeed turned pink ! Now I'm not expert on trees but I know they don't come in the colour pink so why the timber on the roof is pink I have no idea ! Alas this will shortly be covered up with slates.
On a positive note, the stonework looks stunning and when the building is finished it will be a real focal point for the town and all this 'hair greying' time will be in the past.
CB
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
True to their word
The builders did manage to start on the preparation work for the slates in the roof which is great news. The weather over the next few days appears to be mild although it may be wet and windy for the next few days before becoming fine on Friday - at least though it will not be frosty or snowy !
The windows will be going in in a few weeks. These take around 2 weeks to manufacture. Stone work is pretty much complete now around the building so its all coming together nicely.
There are around 10 weeks to run now.
The building team had a very constructive meeting last night and discussed a number of items relating to issues raised by the builder (such as ordering a phone line that sort of thing) but we are all confident of delivering a building which is fit for purpose, more or less on time and within budget.
CB
The windows will be going in in a few weeks. These take around 2 weeks to manufacture. Stone work is pretty much complete now around the building so its all coming together nicely.
There are around 10 weeks to run now.
The building team had a very constructive meeting last night and discussed a number of items relating to issues raised by the builder (such as ordering a phone line that sort of thing) but we are all confident of delivering a building which is fit for purpose, more or less on time and within budget.
CB
Sunday, 22 February 2009
To God be the glory
I'm currently working on a website for a church in Blackburn - Bethesda Chapel. They have been around for roughly the same time as us and they built a purpose built building back in 1980. I mere £100,000 bought them a place very similar in capacity to ours. Its a nice building and the people are nice too. In the foyer is a plaque commemorating the opening of the new church. On it are the words 'To God Be Te Glory' and that is pretty much the ethos of the church.
Sadly it is declining in numbers and it is hoped that the new website will breathe new life into the church by actively promoting its activities. I sincerely wish them well. Have a look at the draft of the site Ive built for them. www.bethesdachapel.orangehome.co.uk
We have a very different challenge ahead of us. Over the past month we have welcomed a number of new people into our church - and there are more to come.
Building work is really going to hot up now with around 10 weeks to run before the building is ready. We are in a bit of a strange phase really because although there is plenty of work to do we cant do it until the last week or two of construction - its all very frustrating because we just want in the building team to get our hands on some keys (first they need to put in some doors !)
CB
Sadly it is declining in numbers and it is hoped that the new website will breathe new life into the church by actively promoting its activities. I sincerely wish them well. Have a look at the draft of the site Ive built for them. www.bethesdachapel.orangehome.co.uk
We have a very different challenge ahead of us. Over the past month we have welcomed a number of new people into our church - and there are more to come.
Building work is really going to hot up now with around 10 weeks to run before the building is ready. We are in a bit of a strange phase really because although there is plenty of work to do we cant do it until the last week or two of construction - its all very frustrating because we just want in the building team to get our hands on some keys (first they need to put in some doors !)
CB
Thursday, 19 February 2009
No....seriously this time the roof is going on !
The builders report that work on the roof will start again on Monday..........just as we are about to have another cold snap. Lets pray that they get some good weather so that they can complete this most important of tasks.
This week the stone work to the front elevation has been more or less completed. The Upper Apex parts of the John Street and Oak Street elevations are yet to be closed in but they are not big jobs and besides if they sis close them it it would be rather dark inside. I guess once there is power on site and they can start on the lighting they will be able to close up the ends.
Late April or Early May is the planned completion date. Fortunately this year Ive opted for an Easter week away instead of a late May week away which is good because I reckon I will be very busy with the project in late April and throughout May.
Its all getting very exciting !
CB
This week the stone work to the front elevation has been more or less completed. The Upper Apex parts of the John Street and Oak Street elevations are yet to be closed in but they are not big jobs and besides if they sis close them it it would be rather dark inside. I guess once there is power on site and they can start on the lighting they will be able to close up the ends.
Late April or Early May is the planned completion date. Fortunately this year Ive opted for an Easter week away instead of a late May week away which is good because I reckon I will be very busy with the project in late April and throughout May.
Its all getting very exciting !
CB
Sunday, 15 February 2009
There's something in the air
We had a full church this morning........a very full church which is wonderful to see. There were new faces and faces from the past as well as the usual crowd. God is already starting to plant seeds in our church, seeds which will grow and flourish. Around 30 children and young people from small toddlers to teens enjoyed teaching and cake (it looked really goods too)
The sobering thought that 80 will swell to 150 really focused my mind on the task in hand. In a couple of weeks I will be giving a presentation to the congregation about jobs that need to be filled. Having not had a building to manage as such for the past few years and with so many functions being held at members houses now is the time to get our heads around the responsibilities which lie before us. Its like we have been on holiday for a couple of years if you like, someone else has done our cleaning, paid our utilities bills, managed site security and so on but now all of these jobs are our responsibility.
Ive been really encouraged by how so many people have agreed to consider jobs in the church and hopefully God will encourage them to use the skills that he has given them.
This morning for example a debate took place between my wife and some of the others about the colour of 'Welcome Team T Shirts' - a new welcome team will be formed and this is going to be one of the most significant new teams. Welcoming people and more importantly keeping welcoming people is so important. If people feel welcome they will stay - if they don't they will not come back and we will have missed the chance to bring them into our home.
Presentation is also important. A team of people to look after the cleaning and general site maintenance will be formed and I'm delighted that I have the help of some trusted friends from the new build committee to help me with this.
How incredible are the times we are living in as a church !
CB
The sobering thought that 80 will swell to 150 really focused my mind on the task in hand. In a couple of weeks I will be giving a presentation to the congregation about jobs that need to be filled. Having not had a building to manage as such for the past few years and with so many functions being held at members houses now is the time to get our heads around the responsibilities which lie before us. Its like we have been on holiday for a couple of years if you like, someone else has done our cleaning, paid our utilities bills, managed site security and so on but now all of these jobs are our responsibility.
Ive been really encouraged by how so many people have agreed to consider jobs in the church and hopefully God will encourage them to use the skills that he has given them.
This morning for example a debate took place between my wife and some of the others about the colour of 'Welcome Team T Shirts' - a new welcome team will be formed and this is going to be one of the most significant new teams. Welcoming people and more importantly keeping welcoming people is so important. If people feel welcome they will stay - if they don't they will not come back and we will have missed the chance to bring them into our home.
Presentation is also important. A team of people to look after the cleaning and general site maintenance will be formed and I'm delighted that I have the help of some trusted friends from the new build committee to help me with this.
How incredible are the times we are living in as a church !
CB
Saturday, 14 February 2009
Architectural features
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What's really nice about the design of the new building is the use of so many subtle design elements which are going to make it look both contemporary and classical. The John Street elevation for example will feature smooth stone quoins and traditional dry stone effect walls on the bottom whilst on the upper part there will be light oak panelling and cream distressed rendering topped by light oak facia boarding.
The back is light sand brick and on the Union Rd elevation the stone work is uniform in height but varies in width.
The roof is natural slate
All in all I think the end result will be stunning.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
A sign of the times
As part of the building teams mandate to cost the fitting out of the building, I had cause the speak to a sign writer today to get a quote for the Union Rd entrance to the church. It isn't going to be a cheap object but one which is going to be looked at dozens of times a day - so I guess it may be one of our most valuable assets.
By the end of the week I am hoping to have a complete inventory of finishing off items. We have managed to access grants for the induction loop system, youth room and also a generous gift of £1,000 towards the cost of seating.
We have also received a donation from one of our members to more or less complete the fitting out of the baptistery and another member is committed to completing the office fitting out. Doubtless others will have items in mind that they would like to pay for (I hope!)
If you have a desire to contribute towards any particular item in the church or would like guide prices for certain items please contact me. All correspondence will be treated in strictest confidence.
My email address is chrisbrindle75@hotmail.com
By the end of the week I am hoping to have a complete inventory of finishing off items. We have managed to access grants for the induction loop system, youth room and also a generous gift of £1,000 towards the cost of seating.
We have also received a donation from one of our members to more or less complete the fitting out of the baptistery and another member is committed to completing the office fitting out. Doubtless others will have items in mind that they would like to pay for (I hope!)
If you have a desire to contribute towards any particular item in the church or would like guide prices for certain items please contact me. All correspondence will be treated in strictest confidence.
My email address is chrisbrindle75@hotmail.com
Monday, 2 February 2009
Extreme Sledging
At our recent meeting on site we were informed that the roof slates would be started today 'subject to weather' mmmmmm........ with the local schools closed and the roads particularly hazardous in some parts of town I think it highly unlikely that when I drive past the building tonight I will see many slates on there ! It will be like a giant water slide up there today.
CB
Our New Name
Eagle eyed blog readers will already have spotted that I have renamed the blog to reflect our new name. Over the coming weeks we will be looking at branding. Our new website will be prepared.
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