Page 11 - link magazine

FRESH BROOK & GRANGE PARK 11

Grange Park for three years, with full provision for weekday
A CHURCH (Rev. David Attwood being community use costs about
followed by the Rev. Tony Price) £4fl0,000 altogether - at least that
they would have had to go just is what Shaw is costing. It's a lot
out of the area for the service. In of money to find, but there are
FOR the last year, a Minister from the other groups with interests wider
United Refgormed Church has than the local community who
joined the Team, so it is now at are interested in moving in who
full strength, and keenly have that kind of money.
FRESHBROOK interested in fulfilling the What do local residents
original decision to build in think? Here is an opportunity for
Freshbrook. the first community-funded
In recent weeks there have been The community planners So much for local history! building in Freshbrook to be put
many press reports about the did a lot of thinking before the with only one village centre site up - and Freshbrook residents
provision of a Church at Western Expansion Area was remaining, it's important that seem to be particularly well
Freshbrook. There has also been started - and talked to many the decision reflects the long organised. As an exercise in local
much misleading information interested groups including the term needs of the community. If government, this is a good topic
about who should have the site Swindon Main Churches it is to be developed by a for a community decision. If you
set aside for a Church opposite Committee. Each urban village Christian group, then should it haven't already done so, why not
Freshbrook School on Worsley centre would have it's pub, shop, be a partnership of Churches as let your local Councillors know
Road. post office, community centre, at Toothill, Westlea and Shaw, what you think. Their names and
Here the Reverend John church, and hopefully a clinic - or one fellowship going it alone? addresses are published on the
Flory of the West Swindon all the basics in each local area - In some ways it is a pity that reference page. Then the right
Ecumenical Team asks the with more at the District Centre a decision has to be made just decision is more likely to be
question "What do Freshbrook within easy reach. now. A quality church building made.
residents think?" In just ten years the
development has been rapid. Soft Water will
Methodists put up most of the protect you and your bathroom suite
cash for Toothill Church, and
shared it with the other main KINETI
groups of Christians in the area,
including the Catholics. It was a C
The No 1 Best SeIIorg Wale, SoBeico, in U 1 The woSdN most advaNced 0115
partnership that worked well automatic non-olecInc rnoter-000trOlIed system
until the R.C.s moved into their For auolnplele 000000 Il Ware, Soft— Sales Sorc,ce /oslaOWlorrs
Rent. Buy 0/V call
new building in Eastleaze. It still SWINDON SOFT WATER. Tel. Brian Cox
provides a growing service to the 27172
Toothill community, and one
base for the West Swindon
Pastoral Team of Ministers.
Freshbrook was to be next,
and then Shaw, but Church
building costs, like house prices,
escalated, and five years ago the
Think of a small town with a Main Churches Committee
population of about ten decided to giC'e Shaw priority,
thousand people - the number (with its sixteen thousand
that there are in Freshbrook and people).
Disappointed
Grange Park - and have a guess Freshbrook Christians either
at the number of churches there continued to make the short
might be. Church of England, journey to Toothill or St. Mary's
Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, church in Lydiard Park, or
United Reformed, Independent gathered together in the
Evangelical, and probably community centre to form what
several meeting places for other has become the Independent
religious groups. In Freshbrook Evangelical Church. In the early
at present, there isn't one days the West Swindon Team led
Church building, but if you read much of the Sunday worship, but
your Adver regularly, you'll with the appointment of their
know that there could be just one own full-time pastor, this was no
before long. longer necessary, nor did the
One only, because there is elders permit it.
only one site left in the whole
Freshbrook/Grange Park area
that has been identified for this With one Village Centre site
purpose. Which is it to be? the remaining, its important that the
group with the most ready cash?, decision reflects the long term k
your own particular preference?, needs of the community.
the one that has the most to offer
the local community as a whole?. Most Freshbrook residents
How is the right decision made?. who have arranged a wedding or
Come to think of it, who makes a funeral, or have asked for a
OOfld&SSE
the decision anyway?. The baby to be baptized, will have RMCt-ktesStOo,, Rued O'EN SATURDAY'S, GOOD FRIDAY
Sw,ndorc
Development Sub-Committee of received ministry from a local SZO0t500
WltNttile SN4 105 DELIVERY 9 AMPLE FREE
..1d is. S-6- 852391
the Borough Council would like Anglican, Baptist. Methodist or Ti SERVICE CAR PARKING
aouee000
to decide the issue at their June Catholic Minister, and although 7 -
meetihg if possible. there has been a resident vicar in