Community Build
Green Light Given to Progress Towards a July 2024 Start
The Community Build Project involves the extension and remodelling of our Church building to meet the needs of our Church family and the wider community. On this page you will find:
- Links to the proposed plans
- How to give
- The Church Vision Poem
You can also find out more by clicking one of the following links:
Proposed Building Plans
- Ground floor plan
- First floor plan
- View from above
- Station Road side view (north) and view from Day Centre end (east)
- View from Chance Street (west) and rear side view (south)
How to give
If you believe God is leading you to give financially, please use Bacs (Bank details are: Account No 60493360 (Sort code 30-98-97) or place cash or a cheque made out to ‘Tewkesbury Baptist Church’ through the church letterbox marked ‘Community Build’.
If you have, or know of anybody who may wish to consider a loan please let David Hobbs know.
In addition, the Church is now on the ‘Just Giving’ platform so you can either donate or put your event/activity on there to enable people to donate.
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/CommunityBuild
Make sure you utilise your social media page to spread the word and indirectly spread the gospel by sharing the love of Jesus in everything you do. Many of these will not cost anything other than your time.
Church Vision Poem
The church of our future
There once was a church in a small market town,
It was known for its heart and historic renown,
Once known as rebels, heretics and fools,
For having one of the nation’s first baptismal pools
They fought for liberty, fairness and peace,
Fought for the oppressed and freedom of speech.
400 years later, their heart still remains
For the last and the lost, those depressed and in pain
For the rejected and hopeless and those in the dark,
The down and the hurting, those with broken hearts
They open their doors and welcome them in,
No judgement of lifestyle, past mistakes or of sin
Not because their standards are compromised or low,
But because they acknowledge we’ve all got dirt on our robes!
We all need help when we get into trouble,
We all need kindness, most of us double
So that’s who they are and a bit where they’ve been,
Now to the future, the bit that’s unseen
They’ve wrestled and wondered, they’ve thought & they’ve dreamed,
Of what church might look like in far distant scenes
And a vision appeared and captured their minds,
Both exciting and scary at the same time,
Of expanding the boundaries of the walls and the floors
Creating a space with more open doors
Not to simply be bigger in size,
But to create a space where community thrives,
A space where family and friendships are formed,
A home where life, hope and laughter are born
Don’t get me wrong they’re doing it now,
But this vision was bolder and made them think wow!
What if we did church like it used to be done,
When Gods family reached out and loved everyone!
What if we had rooms that locals could use,
Where community groups crossed and shared passions and views
Where choirs could sing and children could dance,
And the disabled and impaired were given a chance
What if the poor were cared for, respected
Given self-worth, no longer dejected
What if we had coffee and food that was homely
And we invited the isolated, vulnerable and lonely
What if we truly valued our young,
And gave them an example of how life could be done,
And gave them the space to fail and fall
Until they know who they are and stand up tall
And what if this happened every day,
Whether in activities or quiet or chatting or play
What if we saw this growth on all fronts
And all of the above was happening at once!
Perhaps this idea is crazy and daring,
But this church is determined, committed and caring
We’ll do of our best to make this world warmer
By starting right here, in our own little corner
And of course the church family will benefit too
With more space for worship, for prayer and breakthrough
But this vision isn’t selfish or self-serving at all,
It’s less about building, but breaking down walls!
We’ll work hard, we’ll keep going, we’ll push and we’ll heave
Because knowing Our God, with Him we’ll succeed
We won’t forget Him in all that we do
Because loving Him first is what keeps us true.
Shane Roche (Church Leader)