Orangefield Presbyterian, which has undergone a major building and refurbishment programme will be officially opening again this Saturday 27 September. A special thanksgiving service will be held at 2pm and Presbyterian Moderator, Dr Donald Patton and East Belfast Presbytery Moderator, Rev Johnston Lambe, will be in attendance. Photograph opportunities are available at 1pm.
During the service Dr Patton will unveil a plaque to commemorate the official opening. He will also address the congregation, as will Rev Ken McBride, minister of Orangefield, who will outline the congregation's vision behind the project and their hopes for the future.
Special guests at the service will include architects, contractors and planners who have been closely involved with the build. Local churches have also been invited, including the Salvation Army, McQuiston Memorial Presbyterian, Glenburn Methodist and Cregagh Congregational. During the build, the congregation was forced to find accommodation elsewhere and many local churches were supportive in lending their halls to Orangefield.
The £3.78 million project, which has taken two years to complete, has created a 29,000 sq. ft. complex, including a church that will seat 700 people and a complete suite of new halls. The project was initially planned to accommodate the congregation in oneSunday morning service rather than two, as well as providing facilities that were needed to reach out to the community more effectively.
The new complex will include a 60-seat café called Arc, a special quiet room that will be open to the public daily for prayer or reflection and a resource area that will incorporate a small bookshop and library.
Minister of Orangefield, Rev Ken McBride commented, "This exciting project will primarily give the congregation more flexibility, both in worship services and in the various activities that are conducted in the church. It will also meet the desire that the congregation had to be more open in the community and reach out more effectively."
To further celebrate the new project the congregation is 'reactivating' the new facilities with a five-day festival from 29 October - 2 November. 'Reactivate' will include talks, seminars, Bible studies and worship, as well as events for children and young people. Participants include the New Irish Choir and Orchestra, Andy Flannagan, Stephen Cave, Ken Clarke, Ian Dickson and Deborah Ford.
More information on Reactivate and the church's opening can be found at www.orangefield.org.uk
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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