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ABBEY
CENTRE CHAPEL
Background Information
Abbey
Road Baptist Church was formed in 1893. The church, which formerly met in
Abbey Road, Far Cotton, now meets as Abbey Centre Baptist Church in The
Abbey Centre and Chapel, East Hunsbury. The chapel in many ways
enshrines this heritage. The former premises, now used as housing, are
called Chapel House.
The
Abbey Centre main building, in Overslade Close, East Hunsbury, was
opened in January 1987 for the purpose of serving social and spiritual
needs in South Northampton. The popularity of this provision soon made it
clear that The Abbey Centre would be fully used for community activities
and would only be available for services and other devotional purposes on
weekdays if regular users were inconvenienced. So in 1988 the decision was
made to add a small chapel seating about 120 - suitable for weddings,
funerals, church meetings, and private devotions.
The
Abbey Centre Chapel was opened by Abbey Centre Baptist Church Life
Deacon, Mr. Frank Summerford, and dedicated as a place for prayer and
devotion on Saturday September 23rd 1989. Two flower stands and a loop
system for people with hearing difficulties are in memory of Frank who
died in 1994.
The
Doors and Pulpit
The solid oak front doors of the chapel, the doors into the sanctuary,
those behind the pulpit leading to the vestry, and the door to the left of
the organ, all come from the Abbey Road building.
The pulpit is the top section of the Abbey Road pulpit which stood on a
platform at the top of stairs.
The
Wooden Crosses
Three crosses in this chapel, above your head as you enter the sanctuary,
behind the pulpit and in the vestry, are all made from one piece of wood.
This originally formed the front of the organ loft balcony in the Abbey
Road building. The wood was cut and planed by Arthur Michell at Mereway
Upper School. Two of the crosses were made by Tony Hollowell of Towcester
Road Methodist Church. The cross behind the pulpit was hand-carved by Mr.
Arthur Warwick, a regular worshipper in the chapel who died in 2002. The
Celtic cross, usually on the communion table, was made by the minister
from English oak cut in 1984.
The
small pipe organ
This was installed in March 1991 and was made by Ken Tickell, one-time
organist for St.Mary's Anglican Church, Far Cotton. The organ was a gift
to the church by regular worshipper Miss Winifred Throssell as a memorial
to her sister Mrs. Beatrice Elizabeth Griffen who died in 1988.
The
Communion table and chairs
These formerly belonged to Mrs. Vera Cox who died in September 1989. They
were restored by Mr. Pat Delaney of Hardingstone. The table cover and the
pulpit fall were made by church member, Mrs. Mabel Rust.
Memorials
The wall-plaques previously hung in Abbey Road. The names Webb and Cousins
are but two of many names which have regularly featured in the 100-plus
years of the church's life. It has sometimes seemed appropriate to
publicly recognise loyal service and generous support which has been
given. The continuing generosity of one of these families supplied the
chapel chairs and Bibles for the congregation. Similarly, chapel hymn
books were given in memoriam.
The
Book Of Remembrance
This was was given by Bob & Janet Farey of Hunsbury in memory of their
parents Bill and Emmie Hillyer of Far Cotton. The book records the names
of many whose deaths have prompted generosity to the church.
The
Fired-Clay Memorial picture of Jesus in the carpenter's shop was made
by Edwin Murch of Duston for Phyllis Gross in memory of her husband Ernie
who died in 1981. It formerly hung above the choir pews in Abbey Road.
Ernie was a choir member for fifty years.
The
small stained-glass cross in the centre of the ceiling was given in
memory of Alec and Lilian Hannah.
The
Vestry Chairs were given in memory of Hazel Knight and her mother Amy
Knight who both died in 1989.
Cremated Remains
The ashes of former life-deacon Stan Harris were poured into the
foundations of the chapel as it was being built, and a number of other
people have chosen to have the ashes of their loved ones interred of
scattered in the vicinity of the chapel. An empty urn from Thailand is
kept in the vestry. The Abbey Centre chapel has already become a place of
sacred memory for many.
The
Painted Windows
These were added in 1999 and are a token of thanksgiving for the lives of
several people. The concept began when money was given in memory of John
Tyndall of Wootton who attended the weekly Bible evenings. A legacy from
Winifred Throssell ensured the project could go ahead. As well as the I AM
New Testament sayings, the windows depict the story of creation in Genesis
1, thus drawing together creation and re-creation. The picture of a man
holding hands with a small child is based on a photo of two Abbey Centre
members, Frank Summerford and Katie Williams.
The
Amnesty Board and Christ-figure
The Christ-figure, which previously stood on the pulpit in Abbey Road, was
given by Pam and George White of Delapre. It is made of Olive wood from
Jerusalem. It invites us to be one with Christ in helping to carry the
cross of suffering which is still borne by many today.
Abbey Centre Baptist Church is a member of Amnesty International. This
represents just one aspect of our desire to be alongside poor and
oppressed people whoever and wherever they may be. For similar reasons we
support Baptist Home Mission and The Baptist Missionary Society. Their
literature is often arrayed near the Christ-figure.
Visiting The
Chapel
THE CHAPEL
HAS BEEN BUILT TO PROVIDE A SANCTUARY
IN WHICH PEOPLE MAY SENSE THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
PLEASE ENTER IT QUIETLY AND REVERENTLY.
PLEASE USE IT PRAYERFULLY AND LOVINGLY.
MAY YOU LEAVE IT WITH GOD'S SPIRIT IN YOUR MIND,
GOD'S PEACE IN YOUR HEART,
AND FAITH TO LIVE YOUR LIFE
SO THAT GOD IS HONOURED IN ALL YOU THINK OR SAY OR DO.
SERVICES
ARE HELD IN THE CHAPEL EVERY SUNDAY EVENING AT 6PM. AND MOST WEDNESDAYS AT
7.45PM WHEN THERE IS A TIME FOR PRAYER AND BIBLICAL REFLECTION
THE
MINISTER OF ABBEY CENTRE BAPTIST CHURCH IS - GARETH SHEPHERD
(Please
Note: Sunday Morning Worship - at which all are welcomed - is shared every
week at 10.45 in The Abbey Centre)
The
Chapel is open most days during daylight hours. To enter, turn right
handle and pull left door. If the chapel is locked, a key is available
from The Abbey Centre Office
A
Prayer Suggestion For Use In The Chapel
"Almighty God, best known to us in love, in the fellowship of prayer I
offer to you all that is unlovely, loveless and seemingly unlovable, in
myself, in the circumstances of my life, and in the world in which I live.
I pray for Amnesty International and for all those people who make its
work necessary. I pray for Christian Aid and for the changes which must
come, to end to the extreme poverty of so many. I pray for the church
here, all the churches in South Northampton, and all people of faith, that
they may be true to the spirit of Jesus Christ who gave his life for
others. I pray for myself. I thank you for my life and every good and
beautiful gift of your love. Help me to so love others that I may lose
myself in such love, and discover a better life as a new creature made in
the image of the servant-king. God of peace, grant peace in our time: and
let it begin in me. AMEN".
NOTE: The
Chapel is deliberately not called Baptist or Christian. It was built for
use by all people of good will, irrespective of their creed or culture.
Please feel free to use it whenever it is free
Contact The Activities Co-ordinator on 01604 767568
to discuss what you can offer, or to find out about any of the activities
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