Market Drayton Methodist Church members are marking the 25th anniversary of their current building with a series of events this weekend.
The Shrewsbury Road church was built at a cost of £148,000 and officially opened on September 28 1985, after the former building suffered storm damage in November 1981.
The celebrations start tonight with a worship and prayer meeting at 7.30pm, with a ladies’ breakfast and barn dance on Saturday and a special family service on Sunday, at 10.30am.
The weekend climaxes with a thanksgiving service on Sunday at 6.30pm, to be attended by the Rev Douglas Savill who was church minister when the building was opened.
Current minister, the Rev Roger Baker, said: “The weekend is about celebrating the 25 years of this current church, the congregation and fellowship that has expanded in that time. We’ve sent invitations to a lot of people who’ve been part of the church in the past so they can join in and celebrate with us.
“We also want to celebrate the fact that we’re an active church that reaches and affects the community in a number of ways.”
The celebrations will also include an exhibition of photographs from the church over the last 25 years and a limited edition commemorative plate has been produced to mark the anniversary.
Mr Baker, who is celebrating his 10th year as the church’s minister, is only the third person to hold the role in the last 25 years after Rev Savill and the Rev David Cooper who left in 2000.
Mr Baker said: “We’re a church that throughout the last 25 years has been noted for its youth and schools work, support groups and great music tradition introduced by Mr Cooper.
“We’re at the point where we employ a full-time youth worker to continue the tradition of church-based youth work, reaching out into the community and working in schools.
“The number of people we have contact with in the space of a week is quite significant, providing activities and entertainment for them, as well as sharing something of the Christian gospel.
“There’s a very keen enthusiasm to celebrate the last 25 years, but we’re also keen to look forward and build on the past for the future.”
The commemorative plates are £15 and available from Mr Baker on 01630 652631 or Hilda Stretch on 01630 652367.
By Winston Brown