£200,000 renovation hails new dawn for community church

The New Testament Church of God Bilston has undergone a substantial redevelopment of its facilities ahead of a return to public worship on Sunday, May 9.

Work done on the 60-year-old church includes a new stage area with pulpit at the front and a fully renovated entrance to the church, including the removal of steps from the front door and a new entranceway.

Other work at the church on Wellington Road includes a complete upgrade of the community area, with new carpet laid and a cafe area for public use set up.

In total, the redevelopment work has cost £200,000, with a large majority taken from donations to the church, plus grants and loans.

Pastor Albert Watson has been at the forefront of the work at the church, having been pastor for five years and attended as a boy, and said the work had taken longer than planned because of the pandemic.

He said: "The effects from the pandemic were enormous for us as we started this work in February last year and it was meant to be completed by September.

"However, the pandemic meant that for six months, we couldn't do anything as we were literally closed down, then the builders were able to do limited work between the two lockdowns.

"Despite this, we were able to reflect and look back at different ways and means and although the pandemic has had a profound effect on the timescale, we have got there in the end."

Mr Watson said he wanted the new church and cafe, which opens in June, to be a community hub and something for everyone, whether that was worship or coming in to enjoy a cup of tea.

He said the completion of the work inside the church had been a tremendous weight off his shoulders after such an extended process, which had included protracted discussions with Wolverhampton Council.

He said: "When we went to the council planning department to chance the ambience of the frontage, they said Wellington Road was a Victorian type of street and they weren't happy about changing the culture of the frontage.

"I had to discuss it with them at length and even went to the chief planning officer with the architect to describe what we were planning.

"I described the role the church played in the community and how we wanted to change the frontage to give it the community feel and they agreed to let us do the work."

Mr Watson said the work done to renovate the church had reflected the work done in the community over the last 60 years and what it aims to do going forwards.

He said: "It's been a real transformation of this building and while it's not the finished article by any stretch, it's a platform for the future.

"There is so much I want to and there is a real aim to make this a proper community hub and a place for everyone.

"It's a sense of ownership for the people to be part of it and with the rooms and cafe, there will be so many opportunities for people to use this space going forwards."

The first service at the New Testament Church of God Bilston takes place on Sunday, May 9 at 11am.

To find out more about the church, go to facebook.com/BilstonNTCG/.