Untitled - Christ Church Woking

INSIGHT 2014
⧫
Looking back at 2014
2014 has been an eventful year. The highlights were the largest and perhaps best Church Weekend
Away we have ever had at Wokefield park with over 400 people attending and excellent teaching
by Tim and Hils Grew. There was a real sense of fellowship and the presence of God.
Felt His spirit more tangibly. Great to be encouraged to
not be afraid and to step out in courage with God’s help
”
”
Very soon after we had Lark in the Park; the first one in 2013 was a funday during the summer half
term in Goldsworth Park, 2014 saw the event move to the Wheatsheaf Common and extended to a four day event from
Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. The vision is to
bless the community with lots of free events from
Christian kids clubs, fun activities and outreach events in
the evenings to strengthen the community, culminating in
a service on Sunday. It involved over 130 volunteers and
we reckon we connected with approximately 2000 people
over the four days.
The summer New Wine conference was also a great event
with about 120 of us spending a week camping together,
enjoying the worship, teaching and sunshine. It was great
fun hanging out with one another, watching the children
muck about and wonderful to be spiritually fed – sharing
what God was teaching us and doing in our lives.
Gateway continues to make progress. JKBS presented a first set of plans to the
whole church in the summer term and this provided us with plenty of food for
thought as we seek God’s future for us a church and discern how best to adapt
the building to support mission and ministry in Woking.
The Autumn term involved getting used to not having
Ashley and Craig around, having said goodbye to them as
they moved into the next stage of their ministry. Craig
having been here for eight years went on to be Rector of
St Paul’s Salisbury and Ashley, having been here for seven
years starting off as Children’s Pastor and finishing as
Young Adults Pastor overseeing the 7pm congregation,
became curate at St George’s in Everton.
We have experienced quite a lot of comings and goings over the year. Some friends have gone to
glory, that is always sad for us and we miss them but are reassured and indeed excited for them
as they inherit their resurrected life. We have said goodbye to a fair number of families as they
move on from Woking - again we miss them. However we know that change brings life and
releases energy and in turn we have welcomed some wonderful new people. The future is bright.
There are many unsung heroes and amazing people. The community is strong and at the time of
writing is experiencing a new desire to share our faith with others. As with many churches in the
West, it is easy to be comfortable and that breeds complacency. As a church we don’t want to be
comfortable – we want to be full of faith, hope and love. We want to experience the presence of
Jesus, the love of the Father, the power of the Spirit, the joy of our salvation and see the lost saved.
Thank you to all those who make things happen. It continues to be an honour and pleasure to be
the vicar of Christ Church.
Peter Harwood
Sharing God’s love!
Lark in the Park was all about sharing our faith in Woking
through showing God’s love and generosity and stories of
how He transforms lives. We estimate that we connected
with approximately 2000 people in the space of 4 days on
Wheatsheaf Common in the May half term.
It was wonderful to see queues of people for the prayer
tent, particularly following the powerful testimonies that were given; and people
are still coming forward after being impacted by those stories. George Osborn
continues to meet up with some of those who responded.
Lots of children in the Kids’ Club sessions on the Thursday and Friday afternoons
made the decision to follow Jesus. Many kids, adults and families that weren’t
connected with church in any way just turned up having heard about the event or
were just passing by.
One of the teachers from Maybury School is still talking about the
event and how much it impacted her and her family and keeps asking
when the next one is!
”
”
We had an amazing team of 130 volunteers, led by Zoe Ferret, who gave their time
to help. It wasn’t all plain sailing but succeeded despite issues from the weather
threatening to turn the park into a pond to the electricity supply cutting out and
local residents.
Closing the event with Church in the Park on the Sunday was very special.
We hosted another Light Fantastic event with approximately 175
people welcomed by a team of 50 or so. The Light Fantastic
provides a really fun alternative to Halloween for primary school
aged children and many families come from Maybury School
because of the close links we are building with them. It was also
good to link up with St Mary’s Horsell for this one and we are
encouraged that other churches are hosting similar events in
Woking.
A Dad who isn’t a Christian decided to bring his
children along. They were quite nervous about the
event as they didn’t know what to expect but said that
so many people spoke to them they felt welcomed and
very encouraged by the evening.
”
”
We planned to take approximately 80 people on
a Beach Trip in June, but due to bad weather
ended up at the Science Museum. It was a great
success with church families connecting and
have conversations with people who don’t
normally come to church who we know through
Sunbeams, Who Let the Dads Out, Besom, CAP
and the Monday Nurture Group, whilst having a
fun day out.
Offering a free day trip for these people makes a big impact on
them as a number of families said they couldn’t afford to go to
London for the day.
Making an impact on lives in Woking
Sarah Goddard is our Christians Against Poverty (CAP) debt management centre
manager and gets involved in a number of other activities aimed at restoring hope and
transforming lives in Woking.
Eight CAP clients became debt free during 2014: 4 repaid their debts by working with CAP
over a number of years. The other 4 were either vulnerable, disabled or struggling with
very difficult family circumstances and so used the CAP Insolvency Service to write off their
debts. The Woking CAP Centre celebrated it’s 50th debt free client in 2014, two people
made commitments of faith, and another by a friend invited to Alpha.
”
The CAP Centre has two debt coaches, Sarah (3 days a week) and Sandra Anderson (1
day a week), assisted by Liz Bradshaw who provides admin support. They are currently
working with 58 families and are booked 2 months ahead with new clients!
This past year has seen an increase in the support Sarah and her team also provide to former
clients who struggle with forms, official letters or changes in the benefits system. Their work
makes a real difference but also puts a strain on resources.
There are several people
whose lives have been
transformed, no longer
having interventions with
the police or social
services.
”
The Monday Nurture Group was established out of CAP’s ministry in
2013. They started as a group of people interested in exploring faith but for
whom church wasn’t the right place yet. The group numbers haven’t grown but
deep supporting friendships have grown out of it and some now come to
church and even New Wine!
It was great to have another CAP Money Course run this year with big thanks
to the volunteers who trained and then ran it.
”
Social Transformation is part of our calling. A fair number of
ChristChurch members give time to church-led social transformation
initiatives, most linked with the Vineyard “Lighthouse” – in
particular Woking Foodbank, Breadmaking, Jigsaw (free clothing
and toys for 5 and unders), Woking Homestart (support for
struggling families with new babies/young children).
We continue to support Besom in their ministry, linking churches
(including ours) with those in need. In 2014 121 families (that’s
approximately 300 people) were helped
by Besom. At times they struggle with
how best to prioritise all the needs and
deal with dips in their funds, but one of
the core principles is that they pray and
God answers their prayers!
”
”
”
One recipient that we
offered to pray for as we
delivered a whole range of
furniture and household
effects to was so overwhelmed
as we prayed that she
immediately wanted to know
how she could ”sign up”!! She
has now attended Alpha and
given her life to Jesus.
During morning prayer and worship
before a Besom Day we had a
picture from God of furniture along the
side of the road…… as if abandoned.
Later whilst driving around the town
collecting and delivering a recipient
donated a beautiful cream leather sofa to
us that a neighbour had left at the side of
the road with a sign saying “please take
me home”!
”
We continue to support Engage
(formerly SCAT) and Across and
a number of our members are
trustees of the homeless hostel
York Road Project.
Go! Team - supporting mission
What are the similarities, and the differences, between the
Overseas Missionary Fellowship and Engage; between
Wycliffe Bible Translators and Christians Against Poverty;
between Church Mission Society and the York Road Project;
and between A Rocha and Turning Point Trust?
The similarities are that they (and other missions) are all
supported, both financially and in prayer, by Christ Church.
As for the differences, take a look at the Mission Board at
the back of the church after the main Sunday services.
Between them, the missions which we support work in Asia,
Africa, America, Europe…. across the world. They reflect
our concern that the gospel should be proclaimed, lives
changed, the environment treated responsibly, injustices
addressed. To help that, every Sunday our church plate
offerings go to support these mission projects and our
mission partners abroad.
The ‘GO! Team’, half of whose members are from the PCC,
supervise the financial and other arrangements for all this
mission. Over 10% of the church’s income (£31,500 in 2014) is
devoted to supporting mission work. There is also a mission
prayer meeting monthly (8 pm on the 3rd Wednesday of
each month) to back up the mission ventures with the
needed prayer support.
Michael Green,
Jordan (CMS)
Matt & Farrah
Easton, China
(OMF)
Guido & Linda Braschi,
Europe (OMF)
Gareth & Katharine Mort, Nigeria
(Wycliffe Bible Translators)
Jon & Jo Parsons,
Emily & Moses Obiti,
Kenya
(Turning Point Trust)
Peter & Caroline Finch,
Malawi (CMS)
Breaking down barriers - mission business
We had a guy walk through the Bookshop
recently from the Cafe and after browsing the
Christian Magazines he said “Religion isn’t for
me”. He then asked me…“We’re not supposed
to be miserable are we,” to which I responded
“No we are not”. He then told me his story and said, “We should just get on with
our lives shouldn’t we”. To which I replied, “Yes – but we do need to deal with the
issues that come up in our lives, because they have a tendency to come back and
bite us”. He was obviously weighed down with guilt and didn’t know how to process
it. I then explained that Jesus took all our guilt and shame with him to the cross so
we could live free, after hearing this he began to open up to me. I then asked if he
wanted Jesus to do that for him right now, to which he responded “yes”. So
I made my way around the counter and he quietly gave his life to the Lord.
”
Customers tell us that they value the calm,
the friendship and the sense of community
for all. And more than
this, for some it is an
important step on
their journey of faith,
whether it be
reconnecting with
their past faith, the
curious investigating
what’s on offer, or
the lost and hurt in
need of prayer.
”
The Beacon Café, Origin Bookshop and our
Conferencing businesses are our face to
Woking town centre during the week. They
provide a smile and a welcome, a reason to
come into church, breaking down the
perceptions that people may have of
church. The café and bookshop see
approximately 3000 people a month come
through their doors, a mixture of regulars,
conferencing clients and passers by
interested in the shop display.
”
A young lady came into the shop who had fallen away from God many years
ago and got heavily involved in occult practices. She was drawn into visiting the
bookshop as she wanted to return to God. She had been experiencing extreme
anger and a false identity of who she was but when she read one of our plaques
proclaiming each woman to be a ‘daughter of the king’ she understood who she
truly was. She cried tears of joy and said she had finally ‘come home’ a real prodigal
daughter! We said a prayer together to lead her back to Jesus and she felt a peace
that she had not had for a long time, the anger melted away....it was so
lovely the way that God called her back to him, he never gives up on us.
”
Celebrating our Sunday service teams
Sundays at ChristChurch only happen because we have wonderful teams of volunteers. They turn
up month in month out, sometimes week in week out. They are an amazing model of the
body of Christ serving! So who are all these teams?
We try to make sure that everyone who comes to a service gets a friendly welcome by our
dedicated Welcome Team, now headed up Clare Harwood. On average last year 439
people attended one of the services every Sunday, an increase of 3%
compared to last year. That was 9 adults at the 8 am service, 115 adults
8 am
and 60 children at the 9.15 am service, 124 adults and 54 children at the 11
service
am service and 77 adults at the 7 pm service. Compared to last year there
was a 14% rise in the numbers attending the 9.15 am service, the 11am
service maintained similar numbers. There were falls of 7% and 10% in
numbers at the 7pm and 8 am services respectively.
Welcome
Coffee
The Sunday morning Coffee Team led by Feng Meng have
just 9 people and would love to have some more help in
making sure we are able to offer hospitality between the
9.15 and 11 am services.
Our Wardens, Deputy Wardens and Stewards make sure
the services run smoothly keeping an eye on safety,
handing out bibles, helping people to find seats if needed
and dealing with any issues that arise. Plus lots of things
that you wouldn’t normally notice, but you certainly
would if the team weren't there!
Stewards
Wardens &
deputy ward
en
s
Peter heads up the team of
Service Leaders and Preachers
who dedicate themselves to
ministering to and teaching us.
Communion
Flowe
rs
”
Vibrant worship is an important part of our services helping us to go deeper in our
relationships with God. We are blessed to have a number of worship leaders, 4 at the
morning services and 6 at the evening services, plus up to 30 musicians and singers all
overseen by Stephen Blackburn and Tim Mayne. The musicians are supported by the
projection and sound teams led by Will McIntyre and Tom Griffiths respectively. Both the
sound and projection systems are in need of updating and plans are being drawn up to
address their shortcomings.
We were really
encouraged by feedback
after the Church Weekend:
“Thanks to the worship band
for leading us closer and
closer to the Lord.”
”
Carolyn Dickens heads up our Church Decorating Team and together
with Val Ashworth, always make sure the church looks it’s best whatever
the occasion.
Communion relies on a big team of servers and in the mornings Val
Ashworth makes sure everything is prepped for both services.
You can read more about the Children’s Ministry and Youth Ministry
teams further on; suffice to say that they do an amazing job looking after
our children and youth on a Sunday!
Sound &
projection
Worship at 7pm service
We work hard at attracting young adults,
known as “the lost generation” in the
national church. This we do by making the
7pm Service culturally relevant and a
nurturing community through the 20-30’s
network. The leadership of the 7pm
Congregation was handed from Ashley
Benson to a team led by Sophie Wellbelove
and Mel & Will Hemmings.
Children’s Ministry
We love to worship and pray with the 156 children who are registered with us in their
groups on a Sunday morning. We build community as the children share their
lives with one another, supporting each other in friendship and prayer. The
curriculum equips the children with the Word and Spirit to build disciples and
we continue to bring children to faith.
Our Puppets were a hit with children and adults alike at Sunday morning services along
with action songs to get everyone praising God! The puppets were seen in lots of other
places too: ChristChurch Ottershaw’s Messy Church
once a month, Lark in the Park, the Light Fantastic and
Sunbeams’ Christmas and Easter parties to name but a
few. The team are amazing: 10 adults and 5 young
people, who make up the Krazee Kids team, all led by
Debbie Osborne & Carol Fletcher.
”
A dad came with the
nursery trip at Christmas.
We watched a snippet of
a Christian kids’ DVD
and he asked if he could
buy it in the bookshop,
saying that he loves
Christian DVDs. We
suspect that the family is
Muslim.
”
It’s been encouraging to see the
75 strong team grow and move
into more of what God has called
them to do and to see the effect
this has on the children.
”
Zoe and Hannah continue to
develop relationships with
children and families at Maybury
School through weekly visits to
the school and their visits to us at
ChristChurch at Christmas and
Easter.
Kids Hub meets weekly on
Tuesdays for 9 to 11 year olds. It’s
a place where they bring friends
(up to 14 kids), eat together, have
fun, build deeper community,
biblical knowledge and pray for
each other—just like adults do in
pastorates!
”
”
Celebr8 for 3-5’s
Activ8 for 5-7’s
By splitting the Sunday groups into smaller age
ranges we are seeing a big change in behaviour
and how much the children respond to the
adults, building stronger relationships
and making a huge impact on their lives.
Motiv8 for 7-9’s
”
Area 56 for 9-11’s
Gener8 groups for 0-1’s, 1-2’s and 2-3’s
Youth Ministry
Making disciples of teenagers is important to us and we
invest heavily in this area through Sophie Wellbelove (Youth
Pastor) ably assisted by Pete Allen. They have contact with
approximately 100 young people each week; 40 at Woking
High School and 60 at church.
There are 5 structured events each week; Hubs on Tuesday evenings,
Wednesday morning Bible & Breakfast with A level students and
Worship Wednesdays at Woking High during lunchtime, Route:Cafe on
Friday evenings and Route:11 service of worship on Sunday mornings at
11am. They also have an open door policy from 3pm-5pm each day and
various activities during holidays and weekends. In addition they went
to Soul Survivor in the summer where one young person committed
their life to Jesus and two recommitted their lives. Mentoring is
organised for 13 young people.
Slum Survivor, saw 12 young people simulating the conditions of slum
living by building, living and sleeping in shacks for two nights in the church
garden.
Part of the vision of our youth ministries is that we live out our missional
calling, not just abroad but in our day to day lives. Going to Goa to serve
our mission partners Bethesda Life Centre is just one way that we learn
God's heart for His people to serve one another in love.
Youth Mission to Bethesda Life Centre, Goa
So, we woke up, and got off to a flying start at the boys' home. A few people helped in the Rising Star school, which is
part of the home and for the youngest kids, and those who struggle the most. This was rewarding, touching and
constantly entertaining. The rest of the team prepped the dining room for painting on Tuesday, sanding and scrubbing
all the walls, which was hot, sticky work but we're sure it'll be worth it. We came back to the house for a nap and
then went back to the home to run an after-school kids group, where we sang songs and Pete and Niall did a great
”
”
Open invitation
Alpha continues to be a vital step in bringing people to faith.
This year saw 12 people attend the spring term course and 24
people attend the autumn
course led by Ron & Cheryl
Commans. We would love
to see more people
attending the autumn 2015
course!
Mollie Trotman and Brian Wichmann have been welcoming
people to the Music on Mondays recitals for over 22 years!
Between forty and seventy people enjoy listening to the
wonderful range of organ and classical music offered. We’d
like to say a big thank you to Mollie and Brian for all their
hard work as they stepped down at the end of 2014.
4T+ events are social gatherings or visits aimed at those aged
40 or over, open to non-Christian friends as another
opportunity to introduce others into the life of Christ Church
and ultimately faith.
”
We want to get as many of our neighbours, friends and family
along to join us in fun evenings and get a taste of the great
community we have here at ChristChurch. So we love to run
events where there is an open invitation for anyone to join us.
We had two big comedy events, Stand Up and Deliver with Andy
Kind at which Andy shared his testimony, and a Comedians and
Carols night hosted by Paul Kerensa.
Our very talented youth put on an
excellent Youth Summer Missions
Gala which raised money for their
trip to Goa.
First time I have been invited into an English
house at Christmas / New Year time.
”
The Nave was transformed into a hive of crafty activity as usual on the first Monday of
December for the Create for Christmas Craft Evening! There was such a buzz as 200 guests,
a large proportion of whom don’t come to church, got down to making decorations, gifts or
something for themselves. There was ribbons, beads, wire, paint, glitter, paper, flour… plus
lots of chat, laughter, nibbles and a glass or two of wine!
The Carols by Candlelight Services were a
real highlight again in 2014. The choir led by
Caroline Pearce and the music led by Stephen
Blackburn was beautiful and as ever brought
lots of additional visitors to church.
Peter Grant
Linvoy Primus
Woking Business Matters aims to reach out to non-Christians who work in Woking and are led
by Martin Smith. They ran two lunches in 2014 with speakers Linvoy Primus, ex-premier league
footballer and Peter Grant from Restored (ending violence against women) drawing in 55
people. They also experimented with an Alpha lunch and a series of workshops. In all 78 people attended
one of their events during last year and they have a Facebook page and LinkedIn group.
”
This was a very thought provoking
and challenging subject. Good to
see 18 men to 7 women for a
subject really challenging for us
blokes. (Peter Grant)
”
Our toddler groups are great places for anybody to find friendship, a cup of coffee
and safe relaxing environment to hang out with their kids, be they Mums, Dads,
Grandparents or carers. The Nave chairs are moved to the sides and out come the
toys with lots of space for play!
Who Let the Dads Out happens on the second Saturday of the month and is
especially for Dads and their kids with bacon sarnies and an excellent cup of coffee,
we saw on average 12 families at each session out of the 70 families registered in
2014.
Sunbeams runs twice a week during term time on Wednesday mornings and
afternoons and sees an average of 40 to 55 families across both sessions each week.
The teams that run these sessions go out of their way to make sure everyone feels
welcome, has someone to talk to and that they get invited to all the other things
that go on at ChristChurch.
Doing life together
New Wine 2014 was great this year! We had amazing weather, a gorgeous campsite at the top
of the hill, and a record number of 120 ChristChurch members enjoying fellowship and
deepening faith together. It was a special privilege to celebrate Mags and Stuart’s wedding
anniversary and re-affirmation of wedding vows.
Would heartily recommend New Wine as such a great experience of ChristChurch fellowship
and amazing deepening of faith through wonderful worship, teachings and seminars ...
”
”
Pastorates are fundamental to the way we do life together at
ChristChurch. They are a safe place to be accepted as
ourselves, worship and learn together, support and pray for
each other. Approximately 70% of ChristChurch members
belong to one of our 13 pastorates, about 60% of whom attend
the fortnightly meetings regularly. We have been very blessed
to have Andrew Kane directing the teaching in the pastorates
following his appointment as Teaching Pastor.
”
In 2014 we got to know each
other better, were better
community, and were able to support each other better.
”
The pastorate has enjoyed and been inspired by supporting
Besom in various ways, has sponsored a York Road breakfast
and had a visit from Michael Green who spoke about his work
in Jordan. We also had tea with an older member of the
church community who isn’t able to attend our evening
Trevor Jones and Christine Hatton always get a warm
meetings.
welcome on their regular visits to Heathside Nursing Home
A member of our pastorate’s
and thoroughly enjoy reaching out to the elderly community,
relative died. Within 24 hours
and indeed their care workers and management team.
the pastorate raised enough
The 7pm congregation and 20s and 30s community continue to make it easy for Gen Y
money to send them out to
to find their place at ChristChurch. Somewhere where they can meet other Christians
Zimbawe to be with
their age, worship together, support each other in prayer and hang out and have fun in
her family - amazing!
their spare time. It was great to see a group go to Momentum again in the summer.
”
”
In 2014 we felt it was right to have a Church Weekend Away. With four Sunday services, these
times of coming together are very important and incredibly fruitful. It's a time for equipping
ourselves and growing, a time to explore what God is calling us to, together as one church.
The theme was “Risky Living” with teaching by Tim and Hils Grew. There were so many great
stories of God at work in people’s live over the weekend, particularly in teaching them that fear
is normal, the challenge is how we deal with it! Here are just a few bits of the great
feedback the weekend received...
”
I experienced God’s real physical touch for the first time. I I was
prayed for and I had a shaking in my right arm, which felt not
worrying but beautiful and peaceful. I have wanted to feel God’s
physical touch for years. Alleluia. Thank you Holy Spirit.
”
God has refocused me back to Him. Came
in a really dry place and feel refilled. Felt
God spoke to me saying ”in giving you will
receive”
”
”
A very challenging weekend in
which God has shown me that
nothing is done in my own
strength. I have also been challenged to
seek God’s approval and pleasure rather
than other people’s in everything I do.
Great to have time and space to worship,
connect with people and feel more
connected to individuals and the church as
a whole making it feel like a place of
belonging in a deeper way.
Do not let fear rule you. I love you. I AM with
you. My love can touch the darkest driest depths
of your broken heart, you just need to let me!
The Flourish Womens’ Ministry team led by Clare Harwood had their usual successful women’s day
with approx. 110 women in March . It was great to hear Lynette Brooks from CWR talk on the subject
of “Being a Secure Woman”. Plus they held a women’s breakfast in
October with approximately 60 women attending.
The Men’s Ministry continues to gain momentum under the leadership of
Paul White with monthly breakfasts with 14 or so men, plus monthly
breakfasts with about 6 guys from the York Road Project . This year they
had a very successful men’s day entitled “VITAL” with about 70 men
attending to hear speakers Michael Cooper and Paul Kerensa.
”
Bein
ga
Sec
ur e
”
Wom
an
Resourcing community
ChristChurch runs a number of different courses, not just for our
benefit but for the wider community as well. They vary each year
and range across bible teaching, worship, leadership, marriage and
parenting.
holy:ground is a creative and
contemplative small missional
community in Woking focusing on
those on the margins of church;
unchurched, de-churched and postchurch. The leadership is shared by
Rev Phil Simpson & Rev Bryony Davis
(Trinity Methodist Church) and there
is a core membership of 10, a wider regular group of 25
people and an online community of 100.
The 19 Growing Leaders delegates from the 2013/2014 course
described a wide range of benefits from developing a new view of
leadership, new skills, greater confidence etc. They also spoke
about being more inclusive in their approach and taking more risks.
It has helped people determine their call and some have taken
steps to realising it. Led by Martin Smith and Sharon Blackburn with
In 2014 they created a major worship installation at
a team of 19 mentors we have has now seen 50 people complete
Greenbelt, plus led some other very creative events,
the course over the last few years.
online retreats for Lent and Advent, the Good Friday
three hour meditation service and International Carols
The Marriage Course ran in spring of 2014 with 11 couples, led by
Peter & Miriam Wichmann. As ever the feedback was very positive. service at ChristChurch.
The Marriage Preparation Course led by
Judy Oullette was completed by two
couples in 2014.
Andrew Kane led a very popular Bible
Unpacked Course with an average of
45 people attending each session.
Operations & finance
We owe big thanks to our Treasurer Alastair Jones who has overseen
and managed the churches finances in 2014. Almost two-thirds of
ChristChurch’s income comes from donations (£574k) and gift aid
(£96k) that is collected on behalf of donors. The balance comes
predominantly from the café, conferencing and bookshop businesses
resulting in total income for the PCC of just over £1 million.
In 2014 Origin Books & Media which includes both the Bookshop and
Café generated a net surplus of almost £20,000 which helps support the activities of
ChristChurch. The performance has improved substantially from previous years.
Under Phil Perello’s management the bookshop’s business has continued to grow.
Partnership sales have grown ten-fold since 2010/11 with approximately 150 partner
churches, including a church which is seeing 70 - 100 salvations a week who buy their
resources from Origin. The conferencing business turnover was a very healthy £47k
despite disruption due to building work under Esther Harrison’s administration. The
café also had a great year under Richard Dawson’s management.
INCOME
Donations
Gift aid
£
£
574,145
96,320
55%
9%
Interest, fees and grants & other
Café
Bookshop
Conferencing
Total income
£
12,722
£ 126,387
£ 190,567
£
47,143
£ 1,047,284
1%
12%
18%
5%
OUTGOINGS
External Giving
£
58,221
6%
CAP
Parish Share
Worship/Pastoral/Outreach
Youth & Children
Church Office
£
£
£
£
£
26,109
112,593
69,139
120,449
63,806
3%
12%
7%
13%
7%
Church Centre & Buildings
£
177,916
19%
Bookshop & Cafe
Governance and Depreciation
Total outgoings
£
£
£
298,387
33,400
960,019
31%
3%
During 2014 we gave away £58,221 in grants, continued to support and underwrite CAP
Woking by £26,109 and contributed £112,593 to the Diocese in the form of our Parish Share which equates to 21% of our total
income . Overall we spent 60% of our total income on fulfilling our vision (external giving, CAP, ministries and mission
businesses), with a further 12% spent on the Parish Share. The balance went on administration costs and maintaining the
buildings in a state that is fit for purpose.
Mark Higginson continues to keep ChristChurch running; looking after the fabric of the building and the accounting processes.
Most notably in 2014 he project managed the refurbishment of 4 Orchard Drive (Associate Vicar’s house) and the fire doors.
Being the heart in the centre of Woking
When ChristChurch was last reconfigured 25 years ago the call was to transform ChristChurch to
be the Church at the Centre offering 7 day a week ministry. The impact the extended and
refurbished building had then was enormous!
Today we are still called to be the heart in the centre of Woking, to be a centre for mission
reaching out to the 300,000 people who come through the town each week. The challenge we
have now is to respond to today’s big changes in culture, in particular in our town centre, with a
building that is fit for God’s purpose.
The Town Centre Futures 2020 White Paper (Experian, Sept 2012) emphasises that times have
changed, towns need to modernise and transform themselves but be careful to conserve
certain town features to encourage character and belonging.
The Gateway Project is seeking a plan for our building that will
enable God’s heart for Woking town centre to shine out. It is seeking
a plan that opens up our building to people passing through the
town centre, showing the friendly, fun, uplifting and overall loving
community that we are at the heart of the town. That means
working out how to: make the building attractive and relevant to
today’s audience whilst being distinctively different; creating some
much needed extra space for mission activities such as children’s
work, courses etc; and last but by no means least addressing the
many issues with the current services and fabric of our building, from
fixing mechanical and electrical plant to refurbishing the toilets!
Understanding the need for children’s crèche space & separate Sunday coffee area
08:45
Café furniture
cleared away,
toys brought
through
before 9:15
09:45
Gener8 1 & 2
session in full
swing during
the 9:15
service
10:15
Children have
been collected
before the
service finishes
and team clear
away the toys
10:30
Coffee time
between the
9:15 and 11:00
services
11:15
Coffee cleared
away. New
Gener8 team
arrive, set up &
awaiting 11:00
service children
In June last year JBKS Architects Kelvin and
Clare presented to the congregation the first
set of plans they had for re-designing the
building after having spent a lot of time working
on them with the project board, presenting
them to the PCC, Woking Borough Council Chief
Executive and the Diocese. Overall the feedback
collected showed that the majority were
supportive of the need for change and that
many of the internal layout ideas presented
were welcomed. Of the concerns raised the overriding one
was of affordability and the necessity to spend £4M to £5M
(estimated cost). There was also lots of very helpful
feedback on aspects of the design and the intended use of
some areas. In particular on the initial ideas for the external
appearance and how the kitchen and ’hospitality’ area would
work.
In response to the feedback the team have done several
things: looked again at the needs; worked with the architects
on a more cost effective solution; investigated
if other buildings could meet our needs more
cost effectively; worked with the architects on
the external appearance.
We have been delighted to appoint Steve
Roberts as Project Coordinator. He is giving 2
to 3 days a week to pushing the project forward
as swiftly as possible and we are looking forward
to the next set of plans in 2015.
And finally...
Baptisms at Easter
Volunteers thank you BBQ
A big thank you to
Andrea Walker after 22
years as Cafe
Manager, Sue
Harvey after 7
years as Office
Manager and Jen
Debenham after
her placement
year with the
youth.
World War I commemorations
Pastoral staff day out at the beach!