BUILD: Big Thank You's a final Project Board meeting takes place

On Monday 10th September, the final BUILD Project Board meeting took place. Many, many meetings have taken place over the past 2-3 years in the lead up, during and following the completion of the Leigh Road Baptist Church's premise improvement.

Nobody loves a meeting, but Tim Willcock, Alun Howley, Julie Eady, Steven Hembery and Jane Brookes gave tirelessly of their time to make sure that the project was kept on track.

We thank them all for the 100's of hours they have give, often late into the night to see the project come to fruition. May God bless you in your service.

So the project board have had their final meeting, however the fund-raising still continues. A number of events like the Christmas Fayre Fantastic in November. If you have any ideas for fundraising or indeed want to donate please contact Julie or visit our online giving page.

BUILD Update on Progress Church Meeting 29 March 2012

BUILD Update on Progress Church Meeting 29 March 2012

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Open for business and continuing to fundraise

After starting in May 2011 the work to develop the former brick and stone Edwardian buildings have taken almost a year. Probably the most noticeable feature is the glass-fronted redevelopment which includes a huge welcome area and a bright performance and worship space for around 300 people.

Jane Brookes, Project Co-ordinator and church member said:

"The Church has worked in careful consideration with our members, premises users and neighbours to develop the original plans that have lead us to the fantastic facility that we see today. "LRBC has transformed its complex which now fronts onto the four surrounding roads, we hope that the new building is attractive and reflects the welcoming nature of the congregation."

The church occupies a unique site in the heart of Leigh surrounded by four roads - Leigh Road, Chalkwell Park Drive, Marguerite Drive and Pall Mall. The modern addition to the traditional church building has cost more than £1million, so far more than 70 per cent of it has been collected by fundraising events and kind donations from church members, and the fundraising continues. The Baptist Union of Great Britain also helped with a loan to fund the renovation and the Cory Environmental Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, Allchurches Trust and Rosca Trust have also given money to the project

The work has also renovated the areas used by the LRBC Pre-school, as well as the community events hall and other meeting rooms.

At the end of February 2012 children attending the church pre-school moved into the newly designed space which includes a safe outside garden area to play in.

The church has been open as usual throughout the building work to offer Sunday services and other regular weekly activities for hundreds of local people.

Rev Steven Hembery, LRBC Minister commented:

"Our prayer is that this inviting new landmark will build upon over 100 years of service in our community. This new facility will help us to welcome those in our neighbourhood more fully."

More details of the continued fund-raising efforts  can be read at www.lrbc.org.uk/build

The above video was produced for the opening weekend as a way of showing the church journey to this point in terms or premises and buildings.

Come and see the new premises at Leigh Road Baptist Church (Blog invite)

You are invited to come and see the new premises at Leigh Road Baptist Church.There are a series of events over the weekend of Friday 24 to Sunday 26 February 2012. You are more than welcome, we’d love to see you.

Friday 24 February | Opening Celebration | 7.30 pm to 9 pm – ticket only event*

With guest speaker Rev Jonathan Edwards (General Secretary of the Baptist Union of GB) and the LRBC Choir. Followed by drinks and viewing. *Please contact the church office for free tickets, first come first served.

Saturday 25 February | Open Church | 10 am – 4 pm

The new premises will be open to the public for viewing – please pop in at any time. Theatre Train will be making regular performances during the day. Coffee and tea will be provided by Oasis the church coffee shop in the new hall.

Sunday 26 February | All-Age Service and Celebration | 10.30 am to 12 noon

An all-age service to celebrate the completion of the new premises. Featuring the LRBC Choir and worship band. Followed by tea and coffee in the new hall. Crèche facilities available.

Sunday 26 February | Open Church | 3 pm to 5 pm

The premises will be open to the public for viewing, with displays of the many church and community activities. Tea and coffee will be provided by Oasis  in the new hall.

The premises are now available for bookings, please contact us.

If your new to the church and want to know what to expect please do check out our dedicated pages – we don’t bite – honest.

Photo update - Week 33 - 12 January 2012

Here we have a photo update of inside the development. It's really exciting to see the great work being completed as we come in to land on the final stages of this project.

We can't wait to share it with the neighbourgood.

Pigeon shenanigans | Call in Dastardly and Muttley

Well what a fun time we're having at LRBC this week. As well as being our week of prayer we have also been joined some un-invited guests. Four little friends that has now dropped down to three. Pigeons! They have joined us on a wing and a prayer (very droll) in the Sanctuary.

So here we are inventing new ways to catch the pigeon in true Dastardly and Muttley stylee! You'd think our site manger - with a name like Robin would have some insider info on ways to tempt a pigeon.

Come on little fella - take the bait....

Progress: Colours being chosen

Before Christmas the team working on colour schemes met many times. Here we see Susan Fyvie testing colours for flooring, tops and walls.

The colour team are Susan Fyvie, Charlotte Taylor, David Elcock, Jane Brookes and Clifford Patten.

The Lounge Bring and Buy Coffee Morning Success

On Tuesday 29^th November, The Lounge Women’s Small Group held a Coffee Morning and Bring and Buy event to raise funds towards the BUILD project.

There were carols playing, Fairtrade coffee pouring and cake being munched. The Bring and Buy stall that reached almost the entire length of main church building was surrounded by a hive of intrigued Christmas present bargain hunters, eventually raising a tremendous £360 towards BUILD.

We saw around 20 visitors from the Lounge, Pre-School parents and Bright Sparks as well as people who were just walking by, come in and sample the hospitality and delicacies on offer.

Our thanks to all who came along, all who donated items and also a Big Thank You to the ladies of The Lounge small group for all their hard work!

Progress Update Week 24: Framed and plastered

The slide show above shows a progress Update for Week 24 of the BUILD project. You can see that many of the window frames are in place and ready to receive the glass that should be with us soon.

You can also see many areas are plastered or being plastered and some have received their sealing coat.

The view both in from Marguerite Drive and out onto the same road is really now giving a sense of the welcoming, open reach the building now facilitates.

So we all need to start practicing our warm welcomes and smiles to our visitors.

BUILD Webcam: How far we have come - remember this?

This week we are going back way back... actually it's not that long ago - only 23 weeks. Isn't it amazing how far we have come.

Here we have footage of the demolition stage of the Leigh Road Baptist Church BUILD Project.

We are much further on now. Take a look at the next post to see how far we have come. Not long now...

Thank you God: Anniversary pledge day

Lets rejoice that the Anniversary pledge day last Sunday 6th November brought in £22,950 which includes gift aid toward the BUILD project. Praise God.

If you want to hear the sermon again please visit www.lrbc.org.uk/listen

Week 21 - 20 October 2011 Up on the roof

We are now in the 21st week of the BUILD project - time is flying buy. This update is concentrating on what's going on above our heads.

Here you can see two workman from TJ Evers forming the point to our new cupola. They are manipulating the new 'copper effect' material, however all copper thieves should note, it's not copper or metal and has no value - so don't even go there.

This piece will sit atop the cupola which is designed to be a beacon of light both in and out of the new welcome area.

Here we can see the scaffold erected to help the workman construct the cupola. Also the cupola taking shape within.

This is the 'copper effect' material in its natural form before being cut. Very flexible which allows a wrapping of the timber structure below.

Here gain the material showing the flexibility and beautiful glinting 'copper effect'.

BUILD update Church Meeting | 29 September 2011

BUILD update Church Meeting | 29 September 2011

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Progress Update Week 18: The church has got its hat on, hip hip hip hooray!

It's week 18 in the BUILD project since the contractors TJ Evers arrived on site. How time flies when we are having fun. This weeks we have seen another shape added to the outlook on Marguerite Drive, and that's that of the Cupola. Mirroring the form of the older building to the right, but to provide a beacon of light welcoming all approaching from the surrounding streets of Leigh. The covering will take on the appearence of copper, but not the value of copper so should not be a temptation to those who like shiny things.





Cupola: Taking shape. Will allow light to flood in and out of welcome area.










Front of roof space: below is the area where Pre-School will inhabit

 







Let there be light: Natural light is the key, less electricity needed in day time. Good for the environment. These roof lights shine into the Pre-School area.









Men at work: It couldn't happen without them. We thank God for their skills. Or maybe they are building a Subuteo table?









Flat roof: running from hall across to the main worship area.





Potential BUILD Fundraiser: Garden Trail 2012

Those with green fingers and beautiful gardens (whether the size of a pocket handkerchief or on a grander scale) are invited to consider whether they would like to be part of a garden trail next year to raise funds for the BUILD project. Advance warning is given so potential participants could consider when their garden is at its best: Spring, Summer or Autumn. Please contact Jane Brookes in the Church Office or on 07974 562981 if you think this small seed of an idea could grow into something big and beautiful!

Green fingers for after BUILD needed

When that glorious moment arrives, the garden will need our attention! There will be a new patio area outside the new double doors leading into the garden and where the contractor’s compound now stands the grass will grow again. The garden is enjoyed by everybody, the little ones from Preschool and Bright Sparks, children and young people on Sundays and Thursday evenings at Energize, etc.

A couple of people have expressed an interest in enhancing and maintaining the garden when the contract is finished, if you would like to be involved in a working party please contact Jane Brookes in the Church Office or on 07974 562981.

Pre-school children bury BUILD time capsule at LRBC

Children from Leigh Road Baptist Church Pre-school buried a time-capsule today on the site of Leigh Road Baptist Church’s new building development.

Leigh Road Baptist Church (LRBC) embarked on a £1 million re-development project for their home on Marguerite Drive, Leigh-on-Sea in May of this year.

The work which aims to be completed by the end of 2011 will provide:

• a new inviting glass landmark entrance and meeting area
• a bright and inviting worship and performance space seating around 250-300
• an enhanced community hall for events, sports and celebrations
• a new purpose built pre-school facility with internal open-air safe play area
• a beautiful garden and open-air events space for all to enjoy

The children and staff of the pre-school were joined by LRBC Senior Minister, Rev Steven Hembery, Graham Milne and Tom Lawrence of building contractors T.J. Evers Ltd, LRBC Pre-school Managers Jannette Land and Liz Kelly and finally by Jane Brookes LRBC BUILD Project Coordinator.

The time capsule contains local items that show of snapshot of life in LRBC, Leigh-on-Sea and national news on this day in history. Local and national newspapers, photos and programmes of the many groups that meet at the church, a Bible and details of the other community services that are held from the church island site, as well as some work of the pre-school children.

An archive of church website for this day was also buried on a memory stick along with some sample recordings of different church services from LRBC’s weekly podcast.

Steven Hembery said, “We are delighted that every week hundreds of people use the church premises for a multitude of activities. We currently provide a coffee shop, community centre, auditorium, halls, retail outlets and warehouse facilities. However, we desperately needed to modernise our premises – the new development will help us to serve and welcome our neighbourhood more fully. The new upgraded hi-tech worship area, will also allow us to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ in a relevant and accessible way.

Jane Brookes, Project Coordinator added, “LRBC is transforming its complex by enhancing the Pre-School and community facilities. We are creating a contemporary, visible and inviting landmark that drives forward and builds upon over 100 years of services for the people of Leigh.

Until the work is the completed, the church is open for business as usual, with Sunday services and many of the weekly activities still taking place. Updates on what’s on, where and when can be found on the LRBC website http://www.lrbc.org.uk/

Fundraising: Come Dine With Me, book a Table Now!

The next fundraising Supper Club with 25% of profits going to BUILD is due to take place on September 17th 2011.

Featuring 2 delicious courses for only £15. A fun evening in salubrious surroundings is guaranteed.

Book your place now with Victoria

So here is a little write-up on the last Supper Club evening which was enjoyed by all...
 

So far most people I invited hadn’t even heard of a supper club, but once they understood the concept they were very enthusiastic. One guest told me she enjoyed it much more than a restaurant as the standard was the same but she felt much more relaxed, while the atmosphere was unique. What a lovely compliment!

Jamie & David popping up
the home style restaurant

I’ve put together some photos to give a feeling of the evening. In fact, the Sunday Mirror sent a photographer from their magazine Homes & Holidays. I don’t know when the Supper Club will feature, but we certainly had to pose for enough photos – not easy while trying to cook for 16 people while my 2 year old son is upstairs suffering badly with a cold and asthma. It is interesting that the photographer said “I don’t know if you are mad or brave”, I think a good mix of both. However, the guests were happy and there was plenty of laughter to be heard. Lots of people stayed late chatting at their tables even after coffee had been cleared away, a sign that everyone enjoyed themselves.

To read the rest of this article please visit Victoria's blog at ilovemealplans.com

Real progress this week 5 August 2011

The external steelwork is now going up on Marguerite Drive. This will form the new Welcome area with it's arms open wide to the neighbourhood.

Internally work on the electrics and recessed lighting in the Sanctuary is busily evolving.

Breaking News: Brick colour chosen at LRBC

BRICK WORK: Clifford (Architect), Graham (Site Manager) and Jane (Brick Enthusiast) get the right match.

In a break from news about phone tapping and journalists, we have this news just in. The brick type and colour has been selected for the new external brickwork and their delivery is pending. It doesn't get much more exciting that this.