Tin church has been a Godsend
Fifty years of a church being launched in the heart of the Black Country is being marked with a celebration of its past and high hopes for its future next weekend. Fifty years of a church being launched in the heart of the Black Country is being marked with a celebration of its past and high hopes for its future next weekend. St Chad's in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, started off as little more than a tin hut, set up to gauge the level of interest in worship in the community. But now, half a century later, it has a thriving congregation and is a home to a number of groups. The anniversary date on August 31 will see a special service held. Five members of the congregation will speak about the church's five decades. Former vicars have been invited back to share their memories of church life. Cannock Chase Orpheus Male Choir will perform on the Saturday, while on Sunday, the normal service will have an anniversary theme to it. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
St Chad's in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, started off as little more than a tin hut, set up to gauge the level of interest in worship in the community. But now, half a century later, it has a thriving congregation and is a home to a number of groups.
The anniversary date on August 31 will see a special service held.
Five members of the congregation will speak about the church's five decades. Former vicars have been invited back to share their memories of church life.
Cannock Chase Orpheus Male Choir will perform on the Saturday, while on Sunday, the normal service will have an anniversary theme to it.
Rev Helen Duckett said: "We're trying to celebrate the past but we also want to look forward to the future."
"We're trying to make it not just a nostalgia exercise," she went on to say.
The church, which welcomes up to 100 worshippers each week, has been extended and improved since its original tin hut incarnation.
But the future of the the Stubby Lane building is now uncertain after it was revealed that it would cost at least £70,000 to refurbish the premises.
The roof of the main hall is said to need replacing and it is feared that the walls could crumble.
Rev Duckett said: "The building may not be up in its present form a lot longer but regardless of the building, what's important is the congregation – that's what will continue. That is the most important part of any church.
"The main thing is to celebrate the people and the congregation.
"When it was first set up, it was a tin hut and known as a mission church.
"The community had recently been built in the area and they set up the tin hut to see if there was any interest in and then people did start to come along."
The church has to decide whether to try and raise funds for the repairs or move to another building in the vicinity. A decision is expected sometime later this year.
