The St. Faith’s Community Hub in Gaywood hosts a suite of meeting rooms, a light and airy social space, a fully equipped kitchen, toilets including an accessible toilet, and a new spacious church office. Bishop Graham toured the new hub and chatted with service users and those involved with developing the project before he officially opened the new facility.
Earlier that morning, Bishop Graham, together with Methodist Deacon Lynne Tonge, had led a confirmation service in St. Faith’s during which they confirmed three candidates: Jeanette, Mark and Tony.
Later, at the hub opening ceremony Bishop Graham said: “I’m delighted to open this vital community hub that has long been the vision of those at St Faith’s, Gaywood.”
Borough Mayor Cllr Lesley Bambridge and her deputy, Cllr Margaret Wilkinson, together with other local councillors and representatives of various grant-awarding bodies joined members of the Gaywood community and St. Faith’s church family at the dedication, where the Bishop gave thanks and blessed the premises.
Bishop Graham said he was particularly struck, during this current Mental Health Awareness Week, of the important role that will be fulfilled in these premises by Norfolk and Waveney MIND.
St. Faith’s Rector, Revd Kyla Sørensen, said it was wonderful, after so many years of fund-raising and planning, to finally see the vision for a Community Hub for Gaywood come to life, and that it was such a joy to see the hub already in use by a variety of groups and individuals. She said, “It is truly a working model of church and community coming together. Our thanks go out to everyone involved – those who raised funds, others who oversaw the project to completion, all the volunteers who helped out and everyone who has been praying.”
The official opening was followed by a fine parish lunch for over 100 guests in the nearby Church Rooms.
The top image shows the crowd gathered for the blessing of the Community Hub. The lower image shows the conformation candidates, Tony, Mark and Jeanette, accompanied by, Left to right: Revd Karlene Kerr – Rural Dean, Revd Kyla Sørensen – Team Rector St. Faith’s, Rt. Revd Graham Usher Bishop of Norwich, and Methodist Deacon Lynne Tonge. Both images are courtesy of Michael Tidd.
Tony Rothe, Network Norfolk
