The history of the church

 

 

 

 

Can you imagine what it must feel like to receive a purchase order on your church?

 

Devestating is the first word that comes to mind, but that is exactly what happened to the members of the North Pavement Church back in the late 1950's, where do you turn in such situations? One way, which i doubt the council had concidered, was that of spirit.

 

Mr Edward Pike, a steward at the time and husband of Mrs Ellen Pike(a later president), was a medium, guidence was given from spirit to say that "our church was NOT for sale and if they wanted it would they please reinstate us elsewhere." I should point out that the "property" also included two rental cottages (which eventually sold for £6,800!).

 

After about three years the council finally gave in and said that they would give a piece of land in Pitt Street to build a new church on, they needed to extend upon the Fire Station urgently.

 

On accepting the piece of land the members had to move quickly and took up a 6 month lease at Ashley house whilst they sorted out what was to take place on Pitt Street. You can imagine a lot of hard work with Architects, Surveyors, Builders ect..., plus the members continuing to carry on with services and fund raising. we think we've got it hard today!!!

 

Anyway Spirit continued to give guidence and as the digging for the foundations began, Mr Pike was told that the church would be built on rock. He mentioned this to the foreman who replied "NO, i think you are wrong, this ground is much to soft, no rock here." A few days later though he had this to say: "You were right Mr Pike, we have got down to the rock." (I wonder if the foreman continued to doubt the word of spirit?).

 

As the building work progressed an application was made in 1961 for the church to be recognised as a place of worship, and was accepted in 1962, securing the furture of our church that bit more. All the while the memebers continued to raise funds, though the building was completed without any cost to the church - it was but a shell and needed to be furnished. All the hard work paid off and in September of 1962 all was ready for the grand opening.

 

With a large gathering of members and friends a guilt painted key was handed to the president Mrs Rushden by the Architect for her to unlock the door to a new begining, witnessing this and taking part in the inaugural service was Mrs Briggs, Mr & Mrs Pike and many others.

 

After some five years of hard work, worry and sound spirit guidence we now had a new Beginning.

 

However changes did not stop there...

 

A few years later Grace Street church found themselves faced with a demolition order, having just gone through a similar situation, Pitt Street offered their help.

 

After approaching the council they were eventually told that there was NO land available, but there offered to build onto the back of Pitt Street Church. Lengthy discussions followed and in 1967 the members all agreed to the additional building of a large room and toilets, the room has always been known as the schoolroom and is so today - nearly 40 years on.

 

It is often said that so many owe so much to so few and how true this is, for through the hard work of pioneers in any movement do you see how it evolves. The same can be said of our humble church, out of the "removal" of two small churches we have seen the birth and growth of the church as we know it today.

 

A little understanding of our roots can help us to set our feet in the right direction, to continue the work of those who toiled before us, in preparation for those who are to follow.

 

spiritual growth is ever changing - ever evolving. May spirit continue to guide and advise us in our endeavours to progress Spiritually, Mentally and Physically.