Local Baptists celebrate the first year of the Weston Community Project - 30th August 2007

The Weston Community Project has competed its first year of operation in the newly refurbished premises at the old chapel at Weston. In that time it has initiated regular meetings of: a lunch club, a hobby gather, a daytime WEA branch, an art club and a wine club. It has also become the home for the established 'Mums and Tots', and a temporary location for the ceramic Art Group. In addition to the Parish Council and the local drama group practising there, the Community Project has been used for a variety of private activities ranging from an evening of choral and orchestral works to a showing of Al Gore's film 'An Inconvenient Truth', and for parties of all kinds.

The grade II listed building was reopened almost one year ago by Sir John Greenaway, a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the county, in the presence of a multitude of civic dignitaries. At that time many must have wondered whether a community centre at Weston could ever succeed. The progress made in such a short time has astonished everyone, not least those who took the risk and invested in it (including the church and the NCC). Of course, the Baptists still use the building for services on Sundays and alternate Tuesdays, and for prayer on Sundays and Mondays -- its Cells continue to meet in private houses in Helmdon and Moreton Pinkney. And like the Community Project the church is also growing. 

The Community Project is an independent charity. It will hold its first General Meeting on the afternoon of Thursday 27 September, 2007, when its progress will be reported. This is open to anyone who wishes to attend. But I imagine that most people will be content to visit the Community Project's website which gives information about its activities; you may visit it on www.westoncp.org.uk

Glyn Gill Jones

The old Baptist Chapel in Helmdon.

What's happening to the Chapel at Helmdon?

Whatever happened to the Helmdon Baptists?
                                                     - 2006
Helmdon Cell

A Baptist Chapel existed in Helmdon from 1842 up until January 2004, when for structural reasons it was forced to close. The Helmdon village cell that meets weekly in the village on a Monday morning is still committed, with the assistance of the wider fellowship, to be involved in community action for the benefit of the village as well as meeting some of the spiritual needs within the village.

Although we have no building in Helmdon, groups that are predominantly Helmdon residents now meet in the Chapel in the village of Weston which is now the centre of the Village arm of the Tove Valley Baptist Fellowship. These groups include an active mums and tots group and a bi-monthy meeting for the more elderly residents of the village. In conjunction with Helmdon Parish Church we run two youth groups for village children and teenagers.

The group that meet in Helmdon is always happy for others to join them to explore their faith or simply to enjoy fellowship together. Although Baptists we seek to live an ecumenical life of service and witness to the village of Helmdon.

For more information about Tove Valley Baptist Fellowship speak to the Minister Revd Phil Drage on 01295 768690 e-mail phildrage@hotmail.com or Rosemary Gulliver on 01295 760720. Alternatively, please visit their web site here.