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Brighton Bell Article

Copy of article that was published in the March - May 2006 edition of the Brighton Bell

Saturday 28 January saw Basingstoke Baptist Church in Gershwin Road open its doors for people to look around the new hall. A bouncy castle, face painting, games and food from the new kitchen were provided. The minister, Rev Trevor Woodget said "We were really thrilled as a lot of people came through the course of the day - not just our congregation but a lot of people we had lost touch with during the the time the building was closed."

The following day a special service was held to dedicate the hall.

The new hall replaced an old hall that had been erected in 1984 and which had come second hand from a hospital in Southampton. The old hall had served the church well for 20 years, which was longer than anyone had originally expected it to last. But it became clear that it needed to be replaced. Buildings, like people, do not last for ever! It was used for the last time in May before being boarded up in readiness for demolition. However, various delays meant that building work did not start until September.

An excavator made quick work the old building, demolishing it in just one hour. The new hall is a pre-build steel structure, that arrived on six large lorries, on the only sunny and dry day of an otherwise very wet week. Unfortunately for Basingstoke traffic, it was also while the Brighton Hill Roundabout was down to a single lane.

Although Sunday services continued as normal during the building work, some of the church's midweek activities had to temporarily cease. These groups are now all back up and running.

Rev Woodget said "Our aim is to serve the community of Brighton Hill and we will be able to do that better now that we have better facilities."

The aim of the Church fellowship is to demonstrate God's love for people in practical ways as well as helping people on their spiritual journey to find a personal relationship with God, as revealed in the Bible.

Stephen Harris

Reproduced by permission.

Brighton Bell Editor

Mrs Jane Crouch
1 Russell Road
BASINGSTOKE
RG21 3EU
UK

Tel 01256 355113

updated 29 May 2006