Project overview
Our Vision
In the summer of 2017, the church was bursting at the seems. Pastor Andrew had a vision that he brought to the church: it was time to construct a new larger auditorium.
At the time we were meeting on the ground floor of the building, with a low suspended ceiling hiding balconies and a listed timber roof structure. The plan was to ‘Raise the Roof’ and move the Sunday meeting into the larger space above, by replacing the suspended ceiling with a brad new mezzanine floor.Â
So, the church began praying and fundraising. By February 2018 we had engaged with engineers and architects, and were in a position to apply for listed building consent for the alterations to the building.
The Fire
Sadly in June 2018, before listed building consent was granted, our church building on Stow Hill was gutted by a devastating fire that started in an adjacent building.  Remarkably, the the only internal space that remained untouched during the fire was the prayer room.
The images of the undamaged prayer room, with half full coffee cups and boxes of tissues still on the tables, became a huge encouragement to the church. We realised that the building may have burnt down, but the church was very much still alive.
Defiantly, two days later the church held a worship service in the nearby public car park. Nothing was going to stop us., we knew there had to be a reason for the fire.
God's Plan
It turns out God had a bigger plan for Bethel than simply ‘Raising the Roof’!
Following the fire, the main four walls and spire of the church were found to be structurally sound and our insurance company agreed to pay for works to restore the building. So, more engineers and architects were appointed to design a home for Bethel fit for the 21st Century!
Text here summarising new building – size of auditiorium, new youth hall, offices coffee shops etc… God really can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine!
How you can help
PRAYER
This project is a hugely complex undertaking SOME MORE TEXT HERE
Giving
Whilst the money from our insurers is paying for the vast majority of the works, there are going to inevitably by expenses that the church need to cover. If you feel called to give towards this project please email finance@bethelnewport.co.uk  .
Progress Updates
