Denewell Avenue CentenaryIt's just a hundred years since the Revd Joseph Rorke was commissioned by the Presbytery of Newcastle to found a cause in the developing area of Low Fell, Gateshead. A suitable site was bought at price of 7s 6d a square yard, and on September 5th 1907 a new "iron church" was opened for worship.
The descendants of that new congregation have been determined to celebrate this year's special birthday in style. An attractive centenary brochure tells the history of those early days, when in just a few years a rapidly increasing congregation was able to raise £5000 to erect the present stone church, opened on Good Friday 1914.
The centre of the brochure features a photomontage of church events from past years (a number of amazingly young-looking people can be identified) and also lists the full 2007 centenary programme, stretching from Songs of Praise on January 7th to Songs of Praise on December 30th. Two or three special events are taking place every month, including concerts, an art display, a barbeque and several special meals.
A flower festival and reunion weekend will run June 22-24; and a series of events in early September will lead up to the Centenary Service on September 9th.
Joint ministers of the Gateshead Group. Revds Gordaon and Elaine Brown, say "We look forward to sharing in the celebrations of one hundred years of witness at Denewell Avenue and to a growing relationship with Christ as as its head."