The History of Colchester Road Baptist Church - The 10-Yearly Growth of the Buildings



 
1940 The School Chapel, now the Old Church, was opened at a cost of £1200
1950 The Sunday school hall, now the Covenanter Room, was opened by Jean Garnham who was one of the first Sunday School scholars in 1936, cost £1200
1960 The new hall, now the primary room and Crèche was opened, cost £1650
1969 Opening of the New Church Building which eventually cost (with furnishings, fittings, a new organ and the car part) about £11,000…

Many of the members and friends helped in the building of the new church, which was opened free from outside debt. There were some interest free loans from members outstanding which were soon cleared. The actual building was supervised by a Building Committee, some of the work being put out to contract and much done by members and friends. Amongst the friends and helpers were a quantity surveyor, a civil engineer, carpenters, bricklayers, electricians, plumbers and tea-makers! Our Church Secretary of many years, Olly Green was one of the carpenters, together with Ted Maeers (the treasurer), Mr Pearson an Geoff Pratt, all of whom are still enjoying the results of their work as they worship in the church to day. Hugh Clarke, a very keen young Christian, also worked hard on the building; sadly Hugh died young and did not see the building in continuous use.

This was a great venture of faith which united and strengthened the church. The members responded to a call to begin building in 1967 when the Building Fund stood at only £200. At no time was the work held up for lack of money. As each stage of progressed, the funds were available. By the time the plans had been drawn up and planning permission obtained, the Building Fund had risen to £1500. This set the pattern for the remarkable answers to prayer as the work progressed through the next 2 years.

While the New Church was opened in 1969, there were areas within the building which needed completion - cloakroom had to be installed and a glass screen towards the back of the church, which could be removed to accommodate an extra 50 chairs, if required. At this time there were no further funds available but it was very pleasing to receive a letter from the Baptist Corporation advising that Mr Goodchild (a founder member of Colchester Road) had left a £3412 legacy which he had willed should be used for building the new church. As this had already been built, the money was used for the extra requirements, so once again, the Lord had provided and the building was completed free of debt.
 
1980 This decade saw the installation of a second kitchen and the renovation and redecoration of all the buildings, including the New Church Building
1990 The relocation and modernisation of the kitchen and toilets to include facilities for the disabled, cost approximately £25,000

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