Church’s ability to inspire puts it in line for award

A CHURCH which closed and then reopened has been shortlisted for a national prize.

Sandy Lane Congregational Community Church, Dobcross, is in line for an Inspiring Church Award from Inspire Magazine.

A church representative and up to three guests will be invited to the House of Commons on Thursday, November 20, when the winner will be announced.

Secretary Jill Woods said: “We are pleased about this. Our church was closed for two years, reopening in September, 2004.

“Ours was a spin-off from the Congregation church in Uppermill, where Pastor Frank Wroe suggested we reopen it. And Sandy Lane has been quite successful in the community.”

A Congregational church was first established at Dobcross in the 1870s but by the late 1990s attendance was down to single figures.

The church had to close but the building remained in use by a variety of community groups including the Little Acorns nursery and an after-school club.

Jill Woods said: “We have seen attendance grow with a youth service. But we also have bouncy-castle days, film nights with a bring-and-share tea, a drop-and-shop service for parents and children in the run-up to Christmas, and Dobcross Junior Band.