Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

Psalm 106:1

Great news! On 10th September we received news that our planning application for the building project to MK Council has been approved! This is a significant moment in the journey to realising our hopes for a renewed Water Eaton Church Centre, fit for ministry and mission for the next generation. Our deepest thanks to Grindley Architects for their excellent work on this.

We would like to also reiterate our thanks to everyone who has made a contribution to our fundraising appeal, which we launched at our wonderful anniversary celebrations back in June.

Further fantastic news is that the total of this appeal stands at £341,844.

This is a combination of one-off gifts, pledges to be received at some point in the future, or regular monthly gifts (projected over the coming three years). A total of 76 yellow envelopes were returned and the balance of the support was broadly equal across the congregations of St Frideswide’s and Spurgeons. It is humbling and inspiring to have seen such a display of support for the plans, trust in one another and faith in God’s provision.

This means that our WECC building development fund now stands at £503,880 (a combination of money in the bank and projected giving over the next three years).

We now enter a phase of further fundraising and discernment. Grindley Architects are now renewing the cost plan of the project. They and our fundraising consultant (Andrew Clark of Church Grants) will be supporting us in planning for what we can realistically achieve. There will be opportunity for the church and community to feed into this process in the months ahead. Whatever happens, there will be significant improvements to our building in the next few years, and this will only be possible thanks to the generosity of our church members.

In the meantime, let’s continue to pray that God will provide us with the resources we need to do the work God is calling us to do.

Revd Catherine Butt (St Frideswide’s) & Rev Mung Hatzaw (Spurgeon Baptist)