St Andrew's Church, Walsall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church, Bentley, Walsall |
|
|---|---|
| Location | West Midlands |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Free Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Free Church of England |
| History | |
| Founded | 1943 |
| Dedication | St Andrew |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Southern Diocese of The Free Church of England |
St Andrew's Church is a special church located in Bentley, Walsall, in the West Midlands. It belongs to the Free Church of England. People gather for services three times a week on Sundays: at 10 AM, 11:30 AM, and 6 PM.
The main minister at the church is Mark Spiers. Matthew Spiers leads the family praise sessions. The bishop for the church is Paul Hunt.
St Andrew's Church offers many activities for everyone. They have active youth groups with 30 to 40 young members. There's also a lunch club, a friendship group, and regular prayer meetings. People can join bible study sessions or simply enjoy a coffee and chat.
Church History
In 1943, Bentley had 933 houses. Three people, Revd G K Naderer, Mr Norris, and Mr Roberts, decided to start a church there. This was right after World War II, when many new homes were being built.
On January 16, 1943, St Andrew's Church officially opened. It was in a small wooden hut in the middle of an industrial area. People soon called it "the church on the doorstep."
The first baptism at St Andrew's happened on March 13, 1943. A baby named Alan John Perry was welcomed into the church family.
Growing the Church
St Andrew's quickly became a busy church. It was especially popular with young people. In the mid-1950s, more than 180 children attended Sunday school. There were 13 teachers helping them learn.
In 1955, the church started a special fund. They wanted to raise £10,000 to build a new, bigger church.
A New Building
On November 17, 1956, the foundation stone for the new church was laid. This was a big step forward. By July 1957, the new building was almost finished. The ceiling was painted a light blue, and the walls were a soft grey.
The new St Andrew's Church officially opened on August 10, 1957. It was a proud moment for the Free Church of England community.
Modern Updates
In 1997, church members started raising money again. Their goal was to collect £160,000 for new projects. In 2000, a new Church Hall was opened. Kenneth Powell led the special dedication ceremony for the new hall.
