Christchurch opens new outreach venture

Representatives of the contractors who have transformed the large Edwardian house which adjoins the church to create meeting rooms and a circuit office complemented by ground floor wheelchair access and disabled toilets and kitchens on both floors were guests at the service which was followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tea.

Town Mayor Cllr Paul Lendon, a church member, spoke and gave a Scripture reading at a service which was also attended by Rother vice chairman Cllr Joanne Gadd.

Taking part in the service were the Rev Sheila Foreman, assistant chairman of the Methodist Church South East District, and the Rev Stephen Maunder, Superintendent Minister of Hastings, Bexhill and Rye Circuit.

Surprise number one was sprung by church treasurer Barry Turnwell, project leader for the Centenary House scheme.

He detailed how a phone call inviting the church to purchase the adjoining property had led to two and a half "challenging" years of form-filling and fund-raising culminating in a team effort by church members.

He then stunned the Minister, the Rev Roger Leslie, by revealing that a door plaque testified to the well-kept secret that one of Century House's facilities had been named the Leslie Room.

Other rooms wer enamed in memory of Beatrice Carey and Cedric Gillham, whose bequests helped fund the project.

As a service during which the outreach centre was blessed to God's service was drawing to a close there was an departure from the printed order of service.

Surprise number two turned the tables on the project leader as, on behalf of the church community, Alan Malpass presented Barry Turnwell with a gift in recognition of his two and a half years work for the scheme.

Out in the autumn sunshine, church members and guests gathered around the front door of Centenary House as life-long Christchurch members Graham and Phyllis Warner performed the opening ceremony - Phyllis cutting the ribbon before being presented with a bouquet.

An afternoon which had included messages from the president of the Methodist Conference, the Rev Dr Martin Atkins, and from sports commentator John Motson concluded with tea being served in the church hall.

Some indication of the logistical difficulties involved in converting the property and commissioning it was given during the service when it was revealed that new chairs for Centenary House had arrived that morning - just as a church prayer group was going from room to room praying for the project's work in reaching out to the local community.