Forres Baptist Church is using a £10,000 Berry Burn Community Fund grant in renovations
A local church is investing more than £10,000 generated by wind power in its refurbishment.
Forres Baptist Church has received a grant from the Berry Burn Community Fund for £10,301 to help improve and expand its premises at Clovenside Chapel.
Pastor Jon Mackenzie confirmed the congregation is delighted and “exceedingly grateful” from the support generated by the wind farm eight miles south of Forres.
He said: “Berry Burn’s generosity is enabling us to proceed with this project, which will continue to make a huge impact.
“It will transform our space for our weekly drop in, our free community bonfire night supper, and a host of other activities designed for our local community.”
Forres Baptist Church has occupied the building outside Clovenside Cemetery for the last decade, raising funds to cover the cost of the lease, furnish its kitchen and hall.
It currently has over 50 members, with up to 100 attending on Sunday mornings, with other people using the facilities during the week.
“It seems like new people are turning up every week,” said Pastor MacKenzie. “It's great to see a growing church family that is so diverse in age, from babies all the way up - we’ve just baptised a 92-year-old!”
The church offers a meeting space, befriending for older people, youth groups and Alpha and CAP courses introducing the basics of Christian faith and money management.
Church service is on Sundays at 10.30am. There is also a children’s church, discipleship groups, youth church, prayer meetings and more.
The Berry Burn grant covers 50 per cent of the overall cost of the renovation project - the Benefact Trust has also donated £2700.
The current hall will double in available space by rearranging the internal layout, providing increased space for community meals, youth groups and other functions.
Pastor Mackenzie added: “The renovations are taking place as part of a wider project that involves buying the building from the current owners, and also the land, which will provide Moray Council's Common Good fund with £280,000 to invest in Forres."
For more information visit https://www.forresbaptistchurch.org/
“We have a drop-in every Tuesday morning,” finished Pastor MacKenzie. “It’s open to everyone for a cuppa or just come along any Sunday morning. There's no dress code, register or forms to fill in, just join us at 10.30am, as we seek to fulfil our church vision 'to make disciples of Christ filled with the fullness of God.'“
