The Hub Official Opening
The official opening of the new Worcester Park Baptist Church Church Community Hub takes place on Saturday 14th January 2023 at 2pm. The celebration will be led by Rev. Gavin Carpenter, Minister of Worcester Park Baptist Church with a message from Rev. Phil Barnard, Regional Team Leader of London Baptists.
There is a warm welcome to all in the Worcester Park Community and neighbouring areas to attend this event and to stay afterwards for light refreshments.
The church recognised its need to be more open and transparent to engage with the community – a place where God’s love can be demonstrated.
Fundraising for The Hub began in 2015 having already received a considerable sum from a legacy. After discussions with local neighbours, planning permission was granted in 2016. Funds to allow the £2.6 million building project to start were raised entirely by generous gifts from within the congregation and by applying for some charitable grants.
The Church engaged with and listened to what the Worcester Park community were saying about unmet needs through a survey in 2017 and the results were clear: Worcester Park needs more provision to support those who are socially isolated and those affected by poor mental health.
A key vision of the redeveloped site is for the Hub to be a place of welcome and belonging for everyone. In the autumn a weekly wellbeing space offering “a place where it is OK not to be OK” opened at the Hub. “The Living Room” offers a warm welcome to anyone, providing space to be still, enjoy hobbies, refreshments, company, and conversation.
Charis Lambert, Children and Families’ Worker at the church commented “We are so excited about the potential that this amazing space has, and we can’t wait to welcome the community in to use it and engage with us and each other in it.”
In addition to activities which the church itself offers, community groups can hire rooms and the church currently hosts counsellors, a carer and baby group, Pilates classes and Alcoholics Anonymous.
Rev. Gavin Carpenter says “Don’t miss this opportunity to come and see the newly extended and refurbished Worcester Park Baptist Church building, built with love and creativity. We are sure you’ll want to return time and again once you have seen it.”
We will be welcoming the Worshipful the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Yogan Yoganathan MBE, and Deputy Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Nicola Nardelli to the opening along with the Worshipful the Mayor of Sutton, Councillor Trish Fivey and the Worshipful the Mayor of Epsom & Ewell, Councillor Clive Woodbridge.
The Hub, refurbishment and repurposing of the existing facilities enables the church to more adequately serve the community not just now but for future generations.
About Worcester Park Baptist Church
Web Site: wpbc.org.uk
hello@wpbc.org.uk / 020 8330 1755
Location: 2 The Avenue, Worcester Park, Surrey KT4 7EW
Worcester Park Baptist Church (WPBC) was formed in 1890 in Longfellow Road and moved to its present location on The Avenue in the 1950s.
The church has a longstanding commitment to Christian worship and serving the community. It offers toddler, children’s and young people’s groups and a lunch club as part of its regular programme of events.
There has been regular building work taking place to develop the site adding on halls in the 1970s and 1990s to allow for increased use of the space by the community as well as church worship activities.
While the building work has been in progress, the church met on Sundays at Cheam Common Junior Academy as well as streaming services on their YouTube channel.
New activities will be launched in the Community Hub over the next few months, including a café serving drinks and light refreshments.