Church centre that moves with the times

A church that began life as a simple mission hut has celebrated the official opening of its £1.6m building.

Around 600 people attended a community event at the Everyday Champions Centre, Jessop Close, Newark, on Saturday.

Various groups from the town were offered stands in the centre’s 600-seater auditorium, billed as the biggest adaptable space in Newark.

They included St John Ambulance, Bridge Children’s Centre, Beaumond House Community Hospice and Newark College.

A bouncy castle, face painting and soft play area were among the attractions for children who were also shown a visiting police car.

The Bridge beat team of Pc Sarah Murdoch and PCSOs Will Robson and Laura Jaiteh attended.

The Mayor of Newark, Mr Harry Molyneux, officially opened the centre.

“What you have done to this place is unbelievable,” he said. “You have taken it from a flattened site to a magnificent building. This place is an asset to the town.”

Among the visitors on Saturday was Mr Craig Pickles (36) of Claricoates Drive, Coddington, who went with his children, Max (4) and Lois (2) and wife, Mrs Leisa Pickles (35).

He said: “There is lots of room and the people are very friendly. The centre has good facilities. Everything is clean and well kept.”

Miss Justine Whitaker (32) also of Claricoates Drive, Coddington, takes her daughter Lucy (1) to the church’s soft play session three times a week.

“The people here are always nice and welcoming,” she said. “There is lots to do and the children enjoy it.”

The centre is the home of Everyday Champions Church, which was opened the following day.

Formerly Emmanuel Christian Church, it began in the 1930s as Emmanuel Pentecostal Church.

The church met in a mission hut on Sherwood Avenue that was originally built in 1904 for a Methodist congregation.

Pastor Ken Morgan and his wife, Mrs Sylvia Morgan, moved to Newark from Hadfield, Manchester, in 1975 to take on the church.

In order to expand, the building was knocked down two years later, including the manse where Mr and Mrs Morgan lived, and rebuilt.

Mr and Mrs Morgan had to find another house in the town and Mr Morgan took on a second job to help pay for it.

The building underwent another expansion in 1997 at a cost of £250,000.

Mr Morgan handed on the leadership of the church to his son, Pastor Gareth Morgan, in 2000.

It changed its name to Everyday Champions Church in 2007, the year the last service was held at the Sherwood Avenue building.

The church met at the Magnus Church of England School on Earp Avenue before moving into the new centre late last year.

Mr Gareth Morgan said there were two reasons behind building the centre, which includes three conference suites for the use of groups and businesses.

“We wanted to create finance to help us do more community work and we also wanted opportunities for people to volunteer and serve,” he said.

The church used money from the sale of the Sherwood Avenue building, along with contributions from Awards For All, the East Midlands Social Enterprise Fund and Wilkinson hardware stores, to pay for the new centre.

All the workers in the centre’s Starbucks café are volunteers, except the manager.

They are all given food hygiene and health and safety training and there are plans to begin NVQ courses soon.

Among the many activities organised at the centre are a monthly deaf club, soft play sessions for young children, and a 100-strong youth group that meets on Friday evenings.

Mr Morgan said it was great to see all kinds of different people at Saturday’s event.

“We have got a real picture of the community in Newark and the surrounding area here,” he said.