Hadleigh Porch Project continues to grow

 

When the Hadleigh Porch project started in September 2009, just 15 young people, mostly boys who had been meeting in the church porch, went along. On the Friday evening I called in there were over 80 in the church, playing video games and pool, eating the free food and talking with their friends. A look at the register list showed that the project now has contact with some 150 young people in total – 17 of whom had come for the first time that evening.

 

A Friday regular, Michael, explained that there was nothing much else to do in Hadleigh and this was a warm place where they were all made welcome. “I’ve also started to come to the discussion group on a Sunday. It’s hard to explain, but something has been happening here. It’s made me think more about life. The speaker last week was talking about light shining through and I really did seem to see light coming into the church.”

 

Another regular, Ollie Steer, said “I got interested when I first came on a Friday and now I’m going to the Explore night. Someone asked how to become a Christian and it was explained, and how God can take on all your worries. They suggested I should read Matthew’s gospel which I have. It’s pretty good, but a bit weird.”

 

Over the last few weeks some 17 of the young people have either become Christians or want to know more. Two stood up in church on a Sunday morning recently, and the entire congregation wanted to shake their hands at the Peace.

 

One of the helpers, Lesley Turner, said “The regular church congregation here have been tremendously supportive. A few are concerned about keeping the building safe, but overall they are just really pleased to see new young people in church.”

 

Another helper, John Rye, explained that St Mary’s church had a mixed tradition. “We have High Mass once a month, a Family Service once a month and other types of services in between! The church opens its doors to the teenagers every Tuesday and Friday evening and a discussion group called Explore now meets in the Deanery Tower every Sunday. Last week 33 young people came to that.”

 

Safety and security are closely watched. There are always at least four helpers on duty; the teenagers take home a Child Protection Permission form for their parents to sign, and there is CCTV coverage of key areas.

 

The project started out of a dream held by the Vicar, the Revd Martin Thrower, and others, to open the church doors to the teenagers who regularly gathered in the porch. The aims were simply to provide a safe space to meet, and to offer hospitality.

 

The project is financially supported by members of the congregation and there is also a team of people praying for the work on Friday evenings. Looking to the future and to enable further developments, St Marys are planning to split this project off as a separate registered charity.

 

The Project now has its own Youth Worker, Craig Hutton. He said “At our Sunday night programme “Explore” over 30 young people now fill the Deanery Tower, and they can ask any questions they want. A couple of weeks ago they asked “What is a Christian?”, so we talked about it. At the end of the discussion 20 young people stayed behind to find out more. It was so exciting. We asked them if they wanted us to pray with them and they said absolutely, so we went around the room and prayed for them - and two and a half hours later we were finished! But all week they were coming in dribs and drabs to find out more or to become Christians.”