LILLINGTON FREE CHURCH

The last few weeks have been the culmination of a journey began 26 years ago, as the Church and its eldership felt called to undertake a redevelopment project on the existing site. The 1966 Church building had served the Church well, but was looking warn and tired. It had been built at a time when concerns for accessibility, environmental impact, and the missional integration of Church and community life had not featured as highly in the planning of the facilities.

The halls which had been built earlier were considered facility enough and so the Church itself lacked downstairs restrooms and kitchen, the oil-fired air heating system was both on its last legs and costing the Church a great deal, the two large steps up into the building were difficult for those with limited mobility, and the separation between Church and halls restricted the relationship between the congregation and other building users.

Plans were drawn up for a new Church and a series of developers promised a new Church with integrated hall in exchange for the land. In time an agreement was struck with Orbit Housing Association and Deeley’s Construction (a local firm with a very good reputation). This partnership would provide integrated Church and hall, with kitchen and creche/ committee room, and Church office space, as well as desperately needed affordable housing on a brownfield site.

Once construction started on the site the development progressed relatively smoothly, the Church contributed additional funds for solar panels set into the roof, for aesthetic lighting in the sanctuary, modern key-fob access system and audio-visual facilities that meet the needs of a twenty-first century church. The integration of the halls and the Church sanctuary has already led to families from our weekly mother and toddler group attending Sunday services.

The New Lillington Free Church

The Integrated Hall and Sanctuary Offers Greater Flexibility

In two significant services, we dedicated the building to the Lord and prayed for the life and witness of the Church across Leamington Spa (Sunday 3rd March 2019) and opened the building officially in a Civic Service on Saturday 9th March 2019.

On the Sunday around 180 Christians gathered to join us in prayer. Revd John

Carrier the first Minister of Lillington Free Church unveiled the foundation stone and the Moderator Revd Steve Faber preached the Word from 2 Chronicles 7:11-16. The dedication of Solomon’s temple to the worship of God.

We were led in prayer by a range of leaders both elders and presbyters from local Church and from Churches across our town and region. I am convinced that prayer is the artery of Church carrying the oxygen of the Spirit to the body of the Church. If we are not praying as a Church then we are probably not living as a Church.

Service of Prayer and Dedication 3.3.2019

Founded on Jesus the Rock

Later that week we held our official opening service, we were joined by Civic leaders, Matt Western, our Member of Parliament, Cll Heather Calver, the Town Mayor of Royal Leamington Spa, other local counsellors, representatives of Orbit and Deeleys Construction. 1000 postcard invitations were sent out to

members of our local community and 130 people gathered that afternoon to open the Church officially. Revd John Proctor, the General Secretary of the United Reformed Church preached on Deuteronomy 26:1-3 and 10-11 entering the promised land and offering our first fruits to God, that the whole of society would be blessed.

That morning we had an open day, with performances from our Keep Fit group, Tag B Tigers Taekwondo group, Lillington Free Church Table Tennis Society, and our Uniformed Organisations. Members of the local community had tea, coffee and biscuits, and looked around displays about Holiday Clubs, Lillingtots Parent/ Carer and Toddler Group, the Local History Society and other events that take place in our church.

Since then we have had services reminding us that we the people are the Church called to be 24/7 disciples, and worshippers dedicating our lives to the praise of God.

The building of our new Church in Lillington may be the culmination of many years of planning and dedication, however, it is

not an end point or arrival, but a gift from God, to sustain us on the journey, to be used according to His plans and purposes for us.

In the coming months we will begin Prayers for Every Household again, we will hold a Christian Aid Concert, a Bereavement Café, a Maundy Thursday Meal, we will welcome Churches Together back for an Easter

Cll Heather Calver, the Mayor of Royal Leamington Spa Opened the Building

Community Open Day

Breakfast, hold a Comedy Night with Paul Kerensa, and run further Christianity Explored Courses, a Healing Service, and many other events (including our Community Fun Day). We will open the Church to new groups and reach out we pray with renewed vigour to our community. For this is what Christ’s love compels us to do!

We remain thankful to the Synod for their support in this and trust that together God will lead us in our next steps.

Find out more via our website http://www.lillingtonfreechurch.org/ or through the Lillington Free Church Facebook page.