BUILDING PROJECT 28:16
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
INTRODUCTION
Project 28:16 is our Church Building Project. God has been building His Church on this spot since 1811. As a community of believers, we know it is time to get the church ready for its next chapter. We have called the building Project 28:16 based on Isaiah 28:16 which declares –
‘Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.’
Everything we do we want to build on who Jesus was, is and always will be.
OUR HISTORY
The story of SECC started in a barn around 1804 when a group of local ‘dissenting Christians’ met together to hear local preachers teach from God’s word. God blessed this group and ‘on Sabbath evening 24 August 1817 we formed ourselves into a Christian Church on the most liberal plane’ and ‘we joined ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant’.Herbert Tyler became the first Minister of the Church that consisted of 63 subscribers and 126 children! By 1862 the chapel was in a bad state of repair and no longer fit for purpose and it was decided to build a proper church. This is the building that still stands on London Road today. A committee was formed and after a visit to Milton near Sittingbourne to see a chapel there decided that the new church should be modeled on that house of worship.On 29 April 1863 the new building was finished. James Wood described it as 'a new and commodious sanctuary dedicated to the worship of God’. The cost of building had come to £ 2050 which amount was completely paid off by 1867. In 1904 a piece of land was bought next to the church and after a lot of fundraising a block of classrooms was built which was finished by 1911.
THE PLAN
To be ready for the 21st century and to serve the community well, we plan to have a building which is warm, welcoming, flexible and accessible for all. Our buildings will be a focal point of the community where residents and congregation members can meet, chat, find support and friendship in a safe environment.The agreed plans will enable us to continue to serve our town through youth work, social action projects, drop ins and Christian based activities. We are keen that SECC is a space that is a blessing to our town and where we as a Church can grow in our faith.
THE STORY SO FAR...
Like all Churches, SECC has a long history full of blessings and trials, but through wars, pandemics, social upheaval, our buildings have enabled us to worship God and bless our town of Sawbridgeworth as we live out our faith in Jesus.
Over 200 years people have come and gone and we have witnessed God move in people’s lives and serve the local community.
Like those in our past we again have facilities that is in need of replacing and redeveloping to ensure tat we can continue to live out our faith and welcome our town into a space that is flexible, accessible and welcoming.
We are planning a development that will consist of two phases of work:
Phase 1 - Worship area and Hall rejuvenation
Phase 2 - School block and kitchen redevelopment
Can you help?
We are passionate to see our building project completed in a timely and effective manner. We are applying for grants, loans as well as giving sacrificially as a Church family, but it will not be enough.
Will you donate toward our project? Are you able to assist us in any way?
Phase 1 is likely to cost in the region of £350,000 and Phase 2 £3,000,000+
