In July St Stephens Church, Carlby in the Rutland Deanery, celebrated the end of a long project to add a toilet and a servery into the church. This wonderful celebration, which included singing and waving decorated toilet brushes by the congregation in a packed church, marked the end of a heartfelt and prayer filled journey to make the church fit for worship and fellowship in the rural community.
The project was complicated by the lack of a water supply in the church, and so as well as moving the font to its new location near the front of the church, the churchyard also had to have a channel dug through it, with the associated archaeological requirements, to allow a new water supply to be brought in.
The results have been tremendous, with a new toilet fitted in the bell tower, and dedicated servery area. The church can now be used for all kinds of community events and services which were previously impossible.
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During the summer months ‘Wonderful Wednesdays’ was held every week with craft activities from 10-12. For the first time these community fellowship events and children’s activities could be held in church as the facilities were available to offer refreshments and numbers were impressive with dozens of people taking part in the activities. This included all ages from pre-schoolers up to those above the age of 80, all enjoying fellowship together.
And this growth in has been seen not just during fellowship events, but also during Sunday services and the weekly home group.
Churchwarden Paul Stokes said ‘it really has been an answer to prayer. To be able to bring so many members of the community together in our church building has been something we have been hoping for, and this proves that if we can provide basic hospitality and we pray, God will do the rest, and His Kingdom will grow.’