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The
Area
Ovenden has a mix of some private and association housing. Within the area
there is a Single Regeneration Budget, a Surestart scheme, and an Education
Action Zone - an indication of the social deprivation that exists close by.
Current Church Life and Developments
Some 25 years ago it was agreed to vacate the Sunday School building and convert
the Church for dual purpose use, resulting in a small but bright and comfortable
sanctuary.
The vacated Sunday School was reopened for community related purposes, as well
as Church use, but changes in government funding led to its closure. The
property was sold and has now been converted into apartments - a possible
mission opportunity.
The Church has the smallest membership in the Group with a friendly and mutually
caring congregation, mostly aged over 50. The Elders share pastoral care
and regularly lead worship as a group, or individually. We have volunteers who
run a car ferry so that elderly and infirm worshippers can be brought to church,
a crèche is provided for toddlers when they attend with parents. Large print
hymn books are available and we have a loop system installed. Disabled
access is at the rear of the church via a ramp from the car park and we now have
disabled toilets.
Our three manual pipe organ is regarded as one of the best in the area but,
unfortunately we have no permanent organist, it is used only for weddings,
funerals and special services. A Digital Hymnal provides an acceptable
sound for our weekly services.
Children no longer attend worship on a regular basis but once a month we have a
parade service for our brownies. Parents of these children rarely attend
but, on occasions the brownies do lead worship and parents have stayed.
Three years ago we ran an Alpha course but people attending were already
committed Christians attending various churches as well as our own but we
enjoyed the fellowship.
C.A.T.S (carers and toddlers) group was formed six years ago and is run by four
members. Meeting every Wednesday afternoon at 1.00pm it attracts about 14
children and their carers.
April sees the start of Slimming World using the premises every Wednesday
evening.
A small brownie pack meets every Friday evening 6.30pm.
Once a month there is a mixed afternoon fellowship, with speakers, a small house
group meet at an elders home, Provi Circle (a women's social group) meet in the
evening.
During the summer the Gardening Gang maintains the Church grounds once a week.
Regular social events (usually involving food!) are organised which often raise
extra income.
TRIO has been run twice over recent years resulting in increased direct giving
and we are able to maintain ourselves financially.
We support Silveira House, through Commitment for Life and the Bible Society.
We are Friends of Northern College. In recent years at harvest time we have
collected shoe-boxes filled with items for children overseas.
We strongly support Christian Aid but have replaced house to house collection
with a fund-raising event. Many of our members are involved in organising The
Long March (an annual local sponsored walk for Christian Aid). Several of the
congregation help to run a local Charity shop for Overgate, the local hospice.
We regard this as an important act of Christian Outreach.
We deliver Church Christmas cards, advertising our services to homes in the
area.
Ecumenical Contacts
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.
The Future
While 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 continue to 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.
General Information
Current membership 22 Adherents 19
The church has 6 serving Elders who are elected for 4 years.
Average attendance at Church Meeting 15
Parade Sundays 19 adults 6 children
Other Sundays 17 adults
Hymn Book Rejoice and Sing
Brownies Guides 10
Carers & Toddler session 14
Tuesday Fellowship 14 Provi
Circle 14
Gardening Gang 8
May 2007
