Is a Baptist chapel a suitable venue for a Blues Festival? These people think so:

'... strange, but it's good'

'... quite unique'

'... venue for music. It's amazing'

'... brings people closer together'

'There's an intimacy and intensity you wouldn't normally get in other venues'

'... makes people realise there's something lively in here'

To find out what else people said about this weekend, Click here

First night of the Hebden Bridge Blues Festival, with the main stage at Hope Baptist Church (and we were given a 2 minute slot after the first session).

Great music, great organisation and a great crowd. It should be a very good weekend. 

Hope Chapel waits for the Blues Festival. Beneath the stage are two 8,000 watt speakers! That might avoid English Heritage paying for the plaster to be hacked off the walls.

http://yorkshirebluesfestival.co.uk/

Hope Baptist Church at 'Love Calderdale'

Hope Baptist church had the joy on the 19th of May to be part of the Love Calderdale event held in the Piece Hall in Halifax. Though the  weather could have been better a large number of people visited the event. Many churches and organisations had stalls through which they showed how  love and goodness can and does make a difference in our communities.

There was a childrens' choir and music to suit every taste. Young people could test their head for heights on a climbing wall or get involved in some of the other activities provided like the human fruit machine.

Hope Baptist Church's contribution to the the day was to provide get people of all ages involved in stone painting. From 12:00pm, when the event opened, until 4:00pm when it finished. (There were some outdoor Baptisms planned for later) we engaged with a steady flow of people wanting to have a go at painting.

It was great to be part of this day of mission as part of the Pentecost weekend celebrations. A big thanks to Vicky, Christine, Sybil and everyone who gave up their Saturday to bless others. God's love and goodness was very much in evidence.

Poster for outside the church while we provide the main stage for the Hebden Bridge Blues Festival

Need we say more?  Watch this ... sanctuary ... space! For the full story, Click here

Development Manager

Job Type: Part-Time (10hrs/week)

Salary: £7,000
Location: Hebden Bridge
Start date: July 2013
Duration: One year

Alongside major repair and refurbishment of its chapel buildings in the centre of Hebden Bridge, Hope Baptist Church is seeking a Business Development Manager to explore how this unique space can be used in imaginative ways to promote and support spiritual and mental well-being.

The successful candidate will need to build relationships with a variety of community stakeholders and develop a programme of activities to support the theme of the centre and create sufficient income to safeguard its future. Responsibilities will include business planning and funding applications, as well as setting up and running events. 

It is hoped that, if the Business Development Manager is successful, this role can develop into a long-term and possibly full-time role. 

For a full job description: Click here

Closing date for applications is 31 May. Call Gerard Liston for nore information on 07973 837 342.  Applicants should submit a CV and letter of application, including two referees, to jobs@hope-baptist.org.uk   

Garden 'Ground Force' - Before and 6 hours later