Introduction

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 200) for 100 years. It is the largest Methodist Church in the local Durham and Deerness Valley Methodist 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 7 volunteers catering for 15 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 Kirsty Pepper and her Exec.

Service times

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 when guest preachers are invited and twice each term Taize services are held.

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.  Last year (2006-7) £13,000 was raised for the 'Open Doors Project' to establish a rent guarentee scheme for young homeless people trying to give up drugs around the Seaham area of County Durham. In 2005/6, £15,000 was raised for the Leprosy Mission in Angola towards building a new school.

In 2007/8 the overseas project is to help vulnerable children working in the rubbish dump and street children in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Through the work of the Christian charity, Global Care, an attempt is made to work with parents and their children to provide food and non-formal schooling, together with hygiene and immunization, and incentives to families to support their children and give them a better chance in life. Later the hope is to give the children appropriate vocational education and skills to help them obtain suitable employment.

Choir: Meets on alternate Friday evenings between 6.15pm and 7.30pm.

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 - £2.50. 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 of this year they produced their own hilarious version of Cinderella (Alias Carry On Elvet) at the City Theatre.

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)!

Location

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.

Contact Information

For more information please contact the minister or Mrs P.A. Bissell

Minster

Rev Neil Dixon

University Chaplain

Rev Julie Lunn

Other information

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