BUILDING FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

BUILDING on a community’s social and spiritual needs is the driving force behind the construction of brand new church facilities on a Watford housing estate.

South Oxhey Baptist Church was originally built in the 1950s, with the intention of extending its facilities, but this hasn’t happened until now.

Steve Hobbis, the Church Minister, said: “After many years of planning, praying, giving and waiting, it’s exciting to see the digger in and the ground being prepared. This project would make the church a welcoming centre for activities such as music, dance, toddler and young people’s groups. It would also be used as a ‘holiday at home’ for older people”.

From Left to right: Jeffery Hollis, Director of Marketing at Jarvis, Luke Burgess, Site Manager, and Steve Hobbis, South Oxhey Church Minister.

Construction of the first phase to improve and expand the facilities of the church has just been started by Harpenden-based builders, Jarvis Contracting Ltd, and has been fully funded, but the funding for stages two and three - the fit-out and refurbishment – is ongoing.

Mr Hobbis thanked the fundraising efforts of local people which helped the new facilities to go ahead.

Steve Cook, Managing Director of Jarvis Contracting, said: “We are pleased to be constructing and supporting this development for the local community and look forward to seeing the area’s residents benefiting from them.”

The overall project has a contract value of £500,000 and, funding permitting, it is anticipated to be finished within six months. Once completed, the new building will provide two rooms - a large multi-purpose room for worship, church clubs and external groups, and a smaller one for hospitality. There will also be a much-needed new kitchen. Other facilities will include an office, storage area and new toilets.

The church web site can be found at:

www.southoxheybaptistchurch.org.uk