refurbishment, and the journey since, has increased the confidence of the congregation and increased their trust in God’s God really He did! provision. “Will provide?” The minister of St. Cuthberts added comment that the refurbishments were worth their weight in gold. There previously was a duality of message from the words spoken and the unspoken message the church buildings presented. We speak of welcome and yet locked doors speak of the opposite. We speak of light and yet dark, dingy sanctuaries contradict God’s that. We speak of new life in Christ and yet old, tired buildings speak of decay and decline and death. CONCLUSION In conclusion, refurbishment is a no-brainer. It is expensive. It is challenging. It is hard work. However, if we do not refurbish tired old buildings, then these same old buildings will be unsuccessful in retaining the people who gather and even less successful in reaching out to others beyond the walls. I was sorry that the minister of Letham St. Church in Perth Mark’s never got back to me about my request for a talk about how the church there had changed since its complete demolition and restructure. As I worshipped there, you see, I had the experience of a eureka moment: the to my choice of title for “baby” element this report. A Eureka moment at Perth: Letham, St. (parental permission granted to take Mark’s and use this photograph) As I sat next to this baby during Sunday worship I realized that if this mother and child wished to come to worship in any number of un-refurbished churches, they simply would be unwelcome in several practical terms. This would (and does) have a massive negative impact on our mission to a new and generally missing generation! In an old, tired building there is no place for the mum to leave the buggy if there are wall to wall pews. If heating pipes are under the pews the baby would scold it’s head and be unable to lie comfortably like this. Similarly, in many traditional buildings there is no carpet, so the dirty, bare, floorboards would be a hindrance to
refurbishment, and the journey since, has increased the confidence of the congregation and increased their trust in God’s provision. “Will God really provide?” He did! The minister of St. Cuthberts added comment that the refurbishments were worth their weight in gold. There previously was a duality of message from the words spoken and the unspoken message the church buildings presented. We speak of welcome and yet locked doors speak of the opposite. We speak of God’s light and yet dark, dingy sanctuaries contradict that. We speak of new life in Christ and yet old, tired buildings speak of decay and decline and death. CONCLUSION In conclusion, refurbishment is a no-brainer. It is expensive. It is challenging. It is hard work. However, if we do not refurbish tired old buildings, then these same old buildings will be unsuccessful in retaining the people who gather and even less successful in reaching out to others beyond the walls. I was sorry that the minister of Letham St. Mark’s Church in Perth never got back to me about my request for a talk about how the church there had changed since its complete demolition and restructure. As I worshipped there, you see, I had the experience of a eureka moment: the “baby” element to my choice of title for this report. A Eureka moment at Perth: Letham, St. Mark’s (parental permission granted to take and use this photograph) As I sat next to this baby during Sunday worship I realized that if this mother and child wished to come to worship in any number of un-refurbished churches, they simply would be unwelcome in several practical terms. This would (and does) have a massive negative impact on our mission to a new and generally missing generation! In an old, tired building there is no place for the mum to leave the buggy if there are wall to wall pews. If heating pipes are under the pews the baby would scold it’s head and be unable to lie comfortably like this. Similarly, in many traditional buildings there is no carpet, so the dirty, bare, floorboards would be a hindrance to