|
|||
Ovenden
has a mix of private and social housing. It
has recently benefited from Single Regeneration, Education Action Zone and
Surestart schemes – an indication of the social deprivation that exists
nearby.
Some
30 years ago it was decided to vacate the adjacent Sunday School building and
convert the church for dual-purpose use, resulting in a small but bright and
comfortable Sanctuary, a moderate sized Meeting Room a and kitchen on the ground
floor, with smaller rooms upstairs.
Government
funding allowed the vacated building to be reopened for Church and Community use
for a time. With the withdrawal of this funding the building was again
closed and a few years ago, sold and converted to apartments.
The
Church has the smallest membership in the Group with a friendly and mutually
caring congregation, mostly aged over 60. The
Elders share pastoral care and regularly lead Worship as a group or
individually. Volunteer drivers run
a car ferry to bring elderly or infirm worshippers to church.
Parents with toddlers, who attend infrequently, are provided with play
bags. Large print hymnbooks are available and a loop system is
installed. A ramp from the car park
to the rear also provides access for the disabled and toilet facilities are also
accessible. Because of the late
time of our Sunday service refreshments are served from 10.30am to 11.00am prior
to Worship.
Our
three manual pipe organ is regarded as one of the best in the area but,
unfortunately, we have no permanent organist so it is used only for weddings,
funerals and other special Services. A
Digital Hymnal provides an acceptable sound for our weekly Services or an
electric piano if we have a pianist.
Children
no longer attend Worship on a regular basis but once a month we have a Sunday
parade service for our Brownies. Parents
of these children attend Worship only when the Brownies are helping to lead the
service, which they do once or twice a year.
Four
members have ran C.A.T.S. (Carer And Toddler Session) one afternoon a week for
ten years but, with their retirement, that has recently closed.
One or two children have been baptised but no families have attended
Worship regularly.
Once
a month there is an afternoon Fellowship, which has speakers or games.
A small house group, and Provi Circle (a women’s social group), also
meet monthly.
During
the summer volunteers form the Gardening Gang to maintain the Church grounds.
A
Slimming World group hires a room weekly.
Regular social events are organised - usually involving food! These often raise extra income.
TRIO
was run twice a few years ago resulting in increased direct giving and awareness
so we are able to maintain ourselves financially.
We support Silveira House, through Commitment for Life, and the Bible Society. For several years, at Harvest time, we have collected shoeboxes filled with items for children overseas but last year we brought dry and tinned goods for the local Drop-in Centre for the homeless. We now donate those weekly. In December we donate new toys for distribution by the Salvation Army. We are ‘Friends of Northern College’ and make donations to that and various charities, decided by the Church Meeting, at Christmas.
Several members of the congregation help to run a local Charity Shop for Overgate - the local Hospice.
We
strongly support Christian Aid but have replaced house-to-house collecting with
a fund-raising event and many of our members are involved in organizing The Long
March (an annual sponsored walk for Christian Aid.)
We
are represented at our new ‘Calderdale Mission and Care Group’ which is
meeting quarterly.
Within a mile and a half radius there are three Anglican, one Baptist, one Methodist, one Pentecostal and one Roman Catholic Church. We participate in Churches Together in North Halifax which is alive and active in the area.
Whilst
we wish to become more missionary as a Church, we also thank God that we have
simply survived and maintained a presence for Him here.
As we look ahead we believe that Providence will be here for God,
revealing His love in the community and carrying the message of Jesus into the
world around us. We feel we have
been and will be, blessed by god with a fellowship and buildings, which are a
loving home for our faith.
Easter Day Service, Church Celebration and Gift Day, Harvest Thanksgiving, Christmas Toy Service, Christmas Celebration Service and Christmas Day Service
Current membership 18 Adherents 10
There
are 6 Serving Elders who are elected for 4 years
Hymn Book Rejoice and Sing and Mission Praise
Average attendance at:
Church Meeting 15
Parade Sundays 19 adults 6 children
Other Sundays 17 adults 0 children
Brownie Guides 6 Leaders 2
Tuesday Fellowship 16
Provi Circle 12
Gardening Gang 8
