Manchester, England - For Brooklands Church of the Nazarene, a church building is not just for worship, Sunday School and congregational gatherings. It is a link to the community, facilitating relationships with people who otherwise may never visit the church.

The nearly 50-year-old church is one of the only places in the Brooklands neighborhood that is large enough and available for gatherings such as local ward and monthly housing association meetings, cooking courses and the community youth club that brings 65 children onto the property, said Pastor Karl Stanfield.

“I think we’re filling a void,” he said. “The church is not just for the church but for the community.”

As Brooklands began to offer its building for community gatherings, it became obvious the structure needed to be updated and expanded to facilitate all the event requests that neighbors were bringing.

Last year a teenager from the church applied to the city council for a grant that enabled the church to fund expansion and improvements for the youth work. As a result, two youth rooms were built; the rear hall and the foyer were expanded; the sanctuary was enlarged to add 40 more seats; and the kitchen was enlarged and refurbished with updated equipment – partly funded by a second city council grant.

Last fall the church hosted a celebration opening to debut the expanded building to the community. Local young people, community workers, police and local councilors attended, mixing with the congregation. At Christmas, the church invited members of the different groups who use the building to a banquet.

Through repeated contact in non-threatening activities at the church, “I think a lot of the suspicion barrier is gone,” Stanfield said. “We’re really getting to know them very well.”

A woman who volunteered in the local youth club that meets at the church began attending Brooklands four months ago. Although church members knew her for years, she didn’t express interest in church until she began coming to the property weekly through the club.

Her husband still “doesn’t do church,” but he joined her at the church’s Christmas banquet.

“Our goal is to become the ‘hub’ of the community – a place where local groups can feel at ease coming into our premises, and where the church of Christ can build bridges into people’s lives by offering Christian love, support and friendship,” Stanfield said.

Pray that Brooklands Nazarene will be the salt and light of Christ in their community, meeting spiritual and social needs both near home and beyond.

-- With thanks to Irvine Boal and Together, the newsletter for the British Isles North and South Districts.