News

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release Thursday 8th September 2011

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 www.lrbc.org.uk

ENDS

Photos and further information
Further information, press quality photos, artist impressions of the final building work and plans are available, please contact:
David Elcock on 07967 010261 or email david.elcock@lrbc.org.uk for copies.

Notes for Editiors

Join us in changing lives in our community
We are delighted that every week hundreds of people use the premises of Leigh Road Baptist Church (LRBC) for a multitude of activities. We currently provide a coffee shop, community centre, auditorium, halls, retail outlets and warehouse facilities.
Alongside working with the elderly, we are heavily involved in early years development with our Pre-School. We have appreciative parents, excellent staff and externally recognised standards in teaching quality. However, we now need modern fit for purpose premises to deliver a complete service.

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.
Transformed facilities, increased opportunities

Over recent years the entire island site has been secured by LRBC for community use. This prominent, prime, accessible location for the surrounding community now fronts onto the four surrounding roads.

We aim to develop new high quality premises that will provide facilities meeting the needs of the local population. This will allow us to enhance the services we provide for children, youth, families and the elderly within our community.

This will result in a healthy community creating more jobs and volunteering opportunities for local people.

We see this as the continuation of a long and sustained investment in the people and families of our neighbourhood.
1993 – Purchase of island site, opening of Oasis our community coffee house and provision of three flats, two of which provide for low-income families
2000 – Development and opening of The Stables function suite for the whole community
2009 – Upgrading and decoration of the auditorium for public performance
2011 – Development of new pre-school facility, new main open glass entrance, improved worship and performance space and sports and events hall enhancement

Who else will benefit from the project?
Once a week LRBC runs a toddler group that benefits over 150 families. This provides space for children to play safely and parents/carers to relax and meet with other adults. The new open welcome area, meeting spaces and bright and spacious hall facilities would also benefit youth and schools, community theatre, elderly and interest groups that frequent the premises weekly.

Funding the project
The vast majority of this project is being paid for by church members with over £600,000 pledged and donated so far. We are also very grateful for a grant given to us by the Cory Environmental Trust and a loan form the Baptist Union of Great Britain to help in this project. However, the entire project is costing £1 million we are therefore looking for partners who believe in the services we provide to help us with the shortfall. More information on the project, as well as fundraising and development updates, and an online giving page can be found on the project website at www.lrbc.org.uk/build