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The 1980s - Renewal
The changes which brought the church into the
Baptist family helped in a renewal of its life.
Membership grew. There has been a steady inflow
of new members. Some like Mr. & Mrs. Wyatt and Mr. & Mrs.
Butcher, came in the strong conviction that God had led them so to
do. Sunday remained a main focus of worship, teaching and witness,
coupled with a Thursday meeting for Bible study and prayer. A
monthly family service encouraged children and parents to share
together in Christian worship.
The church was active in the week. Sunday
School and Youth work was renewed. The Sunday School, Girls'
Brigade, Junior and Senior Youth Fellowships, offered young people
and their parents a church-based Christian education and
friendship. A Women's Fellowship drew together both younger and
older women. Experiments such as coffee mornings, lunches, garden
parties, offer a meeting place with a wide circle of friends who
are open to the good news of Christ.
Looking outwards There was (and still is)
agreement that at least one tenth of church giving is to be used
for missionary work, within and without Britain. This includes
support for the Baptist Missionary Society, the Baptist Home
Mission Fund, Christian Aid, Christian Literature agencies, and
other agreed causes. Local outreach was concerned with visits to
families connected with one or other organisation and with leaflet
visitation in the neighbourhood, including the then new large
Goldsworth Park estate. There were also visits to Brookwood
Hospital and the befriending of patients and staff.
Cooperation was fostered with our neighbouring
Baptist churches in the Home Counties Baptist Association, and
also with fellow Christians locally. There were regular joint
services with Anglicans and Methodists at the great Christian
festivals, and on other agreed Sunday evenings; and also some
joint activities with Roman Catholic friends. The Home Counties
Baptist Association became known as the Surrey and North East
Hampshire Baptist Association, reflecting the change in boundary
and emphasis.
The building that had served the church well,
but classroom, kitchen and storage facilities were inadequate for
present-day ministry. Plans were put in hand for the redevelopment
of the back premises, giving new classrooms, a modern kitchen, and
toilet and storage facilities at an estimated cost of £25,000.
These were completed
during 1983 and 1984.
A new minister was appointed when, in 1984, Rev
J.Sutton retired. Rev. Bob Younger had answered a call to ministry
after many years in secular employment, completing a
correspondence course with a Baptist College. The Home Mission
grant continued, and the church steadily grew. TOP
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