News Archive

Our Church in the News

JULY 2010 

50 years in Ordained Ministry 

Our Church congratulated Rev David Holland on achieving fifty years in ordained ministry. David continues to minister to us by leading occasional worship and exercising a pastoral ministry. We are greatly blessed to have him, and his wife Meryl, as part of our Church family. 

MAY 2010 

Church celebrates Outreach worker legacy  

Our Church gave thanks for the work of Nick Boddy, its Outreach worker for the past three years. Nick re-introduced the Alpha course, helped to invigorate home groups, and built up an in-house prayer team. He brought the Ruskin Road Pre School closer to the Church, introducing Bible stories and four Church services a year for the pre school children. Nick (centre photo) is seen here celebrating his three years with Rev Julie Underwood (second row in pink) and other members of the Carshalton Methodist Church Leadership Team. 

 JANUARY 2010 

New Chancel Furniture arrives

The Church's development plans have refreshed the Church chancel. New red carpet covers the Chancel floor and extends into the former Choir space, now designated as a new Prayer space. New ecclesiastical furniture has been purchased - two gas-operated lecterns, a communion table and two new chairs. The new furniture can be moved to allow the Chancel and Prayer space to be used together for smaller worship groups. The design on the furniture reflects the shape of our magnificent Chancel window.

  OCTOBER 2009                                                                                                                                         

Bank Loss will hit community spirit says new Minister

The new Minister for Carshalton Methodist Church has called on Barclays Bank to reconsider its decision to close its Carshalton High Street branch. Rev Julie Underwood said Barclays planned closure of the branch would create difficulties for businesses and vulnerable people. She has written to the Barclays Bank chief executive asking him to reconsider the closure, which would spell the end of banking services in Carshalton. Source: Sutton Guardian 22 October 2009.

SEPTEMBER 2009

 Community Cinema honours Pavarotti

The Church's Cinema on your Doorstep celebrated three years with an evening devoted to the life and work of the late Luciano Pavarotti. The sell-out cabaret raised funds for the Church.

Since it begain with National Lottery funding our Cinema on your Doorstep has shown some forty films to local residents, many of whom feel uncomfortable about going to town centre cinemas. It has provided shows for special audiences, such as beaver and cub scouts. It has also supported local environmental initiatives.

The community cinema's no admission charge - donations appreciated approach has worked well.

 JULY 2009                                                                                                                                                 Farewell Rev Simon Leigh  

 The final service led by our Minister, Rev Simon Leigh, took place on Sunday 19 July. The service and Church lunch afterwards recounted the spiritual growth and church development he had encouraged during his nine-year ministry. Simon departed to become the Superintendent of the Plymouth and Devonport Circuit. We pray that he, Donna and their family will settle and be blessed by God in their new home in the West Country. Pictured below Rev Sarah Sewell and worship leaders from our Church pray for Simon and his family. 

MARCH 2009

Our Church gets a make-over

Our Church has created plans to develop the premises over time and projects are being undertaken as money becomes available. High on our priority list are changes that will create more flexible space for community as well as Church use. Fixed pews have already given way to bright, colourful and movable seating and there are plans to create a stage with more effective lighting in the Chancel. A new Prayer Space will also be created.

Our latest step is a redecoration of the Church to refresh the building and remove the damage suffered from water ingress over the years. For almost a month Roach Brothers have had scaffolding towers in the Church replastering and repainting the walls.

NOVEMBER 2008

Bringing hope and a smile to some of the World's poorest children at Christmas

Church members brought shoe boxes filled with childrens' gifts to a special Sunday service. Other local people had dropped boxes into our Church during the week before. All the gifts came together over prayers during our service led by Rev David Holland and when our younger people described and acted out the effects that the gifts would have.

We collected a total of 80 filled shoeboxes this year. Across the country £1.2 million were received and despatched to children abroad in time for Christmas. Thank you, everyone!

MARCH 2008

Charles Wesley 1707-2007 

Carshalton Methodist Church hosted a special Sutton Circuit event to mark this year's tercentenary of Charles Wesley's birth. Charles was a founder of Methodism and is chiefly remembered for the many hymns he wrote, including "And Can It Be that I should Gain?"; "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today"; "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"; and "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling." 

 Around 170 people from local Methodist churches enjoyed an evening of superb music. Organiser Michael Boxall led the Wesley Celebration Choir drawn from a number of churches. Special songs were presented by the Epsom Chinese Choir and Stephen Haylett of Sutton Trinity was the organist. Clips from a filmed stage production about Charles Wesley laced together the hymns and songs and were projected by our Ruskin community cinema.

 OCTOBER 2007

Halloween Revellers were welcome

Carshalton Methodist Church hosted a special Halloween Night run by Ruskin Community Cinema members. Many churches shunned the evening that is now second only in public popularity to Christmas. But the doors were open at Carshalton Methodist Church and trick and treaters came in their finest costumes to see a cinema showing of the film Night at the Museum.

Putting the emphasis on the light rather than the dark side of Halloween was the purpose of the cinema team seen here in the swing of the evening. From left to right: Jacky Waite, Nancy Houghton, Beryl Jones, David Forty, David Jones, David Moore and Tony Pattison.

AUGUST 2007

Gospel Singers raise the Roof

The South London Liberty Gospel Singers were welcome guests at the Church. Their exhilarating "Praise Upraising" concert raised the roof and had us clapping and dancing along. Afterwards the Singers and our audience enjoyed a bar-be-que supper together.

MAY 2007

   Outreach Worker Appointed   

The Church appointed Nick Boddy to the full time post of Outreach Worker in May 2007. Nick is getting to know our church members and is doing a wonderful job in helping to sharpen up our outreach in Carshalton. He has trodden our “boards” as High Priest Caiaphas in the Easter experiences of the past two years and is also one of Sutton’s volunteer street pastors. 

Nick will be our Outreach Worker for three years.

MAY 2007

 New Leadership Team Elected 

Our Church’s leadership team for the next three to four years was elected. The team comprises Revd Simon Leigh – Minister; David Forty – Senior Steward; Jacky Waite – General Church Secretary; Caroline Cook – Church Treasurer; Nick Boddy – Outreach Worker; Michael Boxall; Kate Francis; Katy Frenkiel; Caroline Kingsnorth; John Kingsnorth; David Palmer; Sue Trewhitt; and  Tika Yorke.

 APRIL 2007

 Church Joins Sutton Arts Council 

Sutton Arts Council welcomed Carshalton Methodist Church as a new member in 2007. The church and its three halls have become an important focus for the arts in the village and surrounding residential roads. Grayes School of Dancing, Carshalton Choral Society and Ruskin Players and Juniors have operated from here for some years. Carshalton Camera Club has just moved its meetings to the church and now meets here on Monday evenings. And the church is running its own community cinema, showing popular and special interest films every month.

Based in Ruskin Road, Carshalton, the church and halls are adjacent to the extensive open space of Carshalton Park with good on street car parking. The church has recently expanded its space for community use by removing fixed pews and bringing in moveable, brightly coloured and comfortable chairs. Senior steward, David Forty, said “We look forward to meeting other organisations that share our church members’ interest in arts in our community.

 MARCH 2007

New Church Chairs And Notice Boards 

As part of our plan to reach out to the community, our Church removed its wooden pews in 2007 and brought in brightly coloured chairs and notice boards. As well as brightening the church, the chairs can be moved around easily, allowing the church space to be used for many different types of use. The new stacking chairs can be easily wheeled, eight at a time, into the adjoining halls allowing people to sit in comfort while they are in meetings, enjoying plays or watching film performances. There is no more need for visitors to bring their own cushions!
Our new notice boards are also part of the more flexible interior design. We can use them to display notices in the church and halls. We can use them to stage exhibitions for art and camera work. We can also use them as dividers within the church, allowing smaller groups to feel that they are meeting in less cavernous surroundings.