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Elvet Methodist Church
was opened in November 1903 with a week of celebration.
Built with an initial capacity of about 600 the Church has
remained with good membership (now about 190) for 100 years.
It is the largest church in the Durham & Deerness Valley Circuit. It had changed little over its 100 years until the 1980's when
discussions began to consider changes
to meet the anticipated challenges of the new millennium.
So the New Era (Elvet Renewal Action) was launched formally
in 1991. The interior of the church was substantially changed
at the entrance, chancel and transepts. This was completed
in 1995 together with important changes in the rear premises.
These have opened up the uses of both church and premises
so that on most days of the week there is activity of some
kind. Besides the expected services and prayer meetings (and
being a Methodist Church, the long round of committee meetings!)
there is a variety of secular activities, some based on church
membership but others organised by outside bodies.
Elvet
Methodist Church has about 90 - 100 people regularly attending worship.The congregation is drawn from the city and from surrounding villages and they come from all walks of life.
There
is a Junior Church staffed by volunteers catering for
children from 3 up to 15+ . This meets on Sunday at the same
time as the present main morning service at 10.45am. The Junior
Church comes into this service at the beginning and usually leaves for its own activities after the second hymn.
There is a creche for the under 3's.
The
church is home to MethSoc, having the university chaplaincy
for the Methodist church in Durham City. Currently they have
about 30 members led by President Jen Carson and her Exec.
Sunday
10.45 am until 12 noon - Morning Worship including Junior
Church.
Afterwards tea/coffee is served in the Church Hall.
Sunday
6pm - Evening Worship
2nd
Sunday of each month 8.30am - Morning Communion (1936 version)
Activities
Project: Each year a ‘project’ is adopted for which we raise funds for either home based or overseas charities and on which many of our social activities are based.
Elvet Project 2010 – 2011 “Justice First”
Justice First is a charitable organisation based in the Middlesborough area, working with asylum seekers who have had their applications for asylum rejected.
The organisation was founded some years ago, and funds are required for premises, salaries for one full time worker who has specialist training, and counsellors from a medical organisation in Newcastle. Costs for one years work are estimated at £60000.
A misconception is that asylum seekers are economic migrants from E U countries, coming to the UK for work, and benefits. Most asylum seekers are however from Africa, Ethiopia, Sudan, Iraq, Iran etc, fleeing persecution, conflicts of war/politics, ethnic troubles etc. 50% are female who may have been tortured, mutilated, raped, sexually violated and consequently traumatised.
Applications for refugee status which have been turned down may be referred to Justice First, who will step in to assist with appeals and give support. Each asylum seeker is assigned a caseworker, provided with food and clothing where required, offered therapy if traumatised, and referred for welfare support if needed (supplied by a local charity - The Mary Thompson Fund). Volunteers provide other types of support by caring for children, escorting the asylum seeker to Court and to the Police Station where they are required to register on a regular basis.
Justice First can help these asylum seekers to remain legitimately within the asylum process while the appeal progresses.
Choir:
Meets on Sunday mornings before the service.
Prayer meeting: Meets on 2nd and
4th Monday afternoons of the month at 2pm.
Uniformed organisations: Meet
on Monday and Tuesday evenings - includes Scouts, Cubs, Beavers and Brownies.
House groups: Various house
groups around the city meet fortnightly and help us to enrich our faith.
Lunch Stop: Lunches are provided on Wednesdays during term time between 12 noon and 1pm. Everyone is assured of a warm welcome and good food and fellowship - £3. Contact Dorothy Slater 0191 386 2481 for more information.
Women's Fellowship: Meets on 1st
and 3rd Wednesday afternoons between 2pm and 3.30pm with speakers followed by light refreshments. NB Following Lunch Stop!
Thursday Club: A ladies
meeting, with occasional male guests, meets fortnightly between 7.45pm and 9.30pm. (Generally
outside speakers and demonstrations.)
Arts and Craft Group: Meets weekly
on Thursday mornings in the upstairs room This is a time for
those who wish they could paint or draw to learn new skills
or deepen their knowledge or to join others in embroidery
or patchwork quilting, sculpting, pottery and last but not least chatting!
Drama Group: Recently reformed (2006). In December 2008 they produced their own hilarious version of Dick Wittington. The pantomime planned for December 2009 is Jack and the Beanstalk.
Methsoc: Meets Sundays during
term time 7.00 - 9pm with invited speakers, and on Wednesdays for lunch and bible study.
Men's Working Group: Meets on Tuesday mornings to carry out repairs and maintenance on the premises and around the grounds, as well as having coffee and a chatter. (Also known as the Men’s Playgroup)!
8 Old Elvet, Durham City DH1
3HL
Instructions on how to find church ~
http://www.dur.ac.uk/methodist.society/1About/ElvetMap.gif
Durham City beside Old Shire Hall and opposite the Marriott County Hotel and behind the Swallow Three Tuns Hotel.
For more information please contact the minister or Mrs P.A. Bissell
Rev Shaun Swithenbank
University Chaplain
Rev Julie Lunn
We
have facilities for those who are physically challenged. There
are also 'nappy changing' facilities for babies at Elvet.
Elvet is an ideal venue with wonderful acoustics for concerts
and other musical events large or small. Elvet can seat up
to 400 people and can offer refreshments.
Workshops and
RSM music exams are also held on the premises throughout the
year.
We are always seeking new ways to help in the local community. If you think Elvet can offer you any help or you can help
us in any way please contact Rev Neil Dixon- details above.
If you like what you read here - do come along and join us! You will be very welcome.
More information can be found on our website www.elvet-church.org.uk
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