Christmas Day drop-in

The chapel will be open 10.00-12.00 for anyone who wants space and time for reflection and peace amidst the noise and busy-ness that often characterises the day.

Gentle seasonal music and poetry .... and periods of silence. Drop in for 10 minutes or as long as you wish. 

2015 Calendar (A4 size)
'Non-Conformists: Chapel Life in the Calder Valley'

To view the Calendar, Click here

To read information, Click here

'Love Notes' a capella workshop and Candlelit service still to come.

A triumph of the Monday 'Chatty Crochet' group ... a whole nativity scene, complete with funky kings and cheery sheep. Exclusively on sale at this year's brilliant Christmas Tree Festival. Well done Sybil, Isabel, Muriel, Joan and the team. 

How nice is this - in this week's Hebden Bridge Times. Special credit to Muriel and Dittany, our two stars of the Hope Chapel garden. 

An amazing set of photos and paintings in the Town Hall to celebrate the four Blues Festivals in HB ...including many featuring the main stage at Hope Baptist Chapel. 

Ten evening sessions, starting Thursday 25th Sept, to deepen our understanding of The Beatitudes. followed by an all-day workshop. For an information sheet: Click here

A chapel full of singers gathering for practice this morning provided a fantastic background sound for the worship service in the back room.

The chapel was packed for the Friday evening concert ... and choirs popped up all round the town throughout the weekend:
http://www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/news/2014/023.html

Fantastic!

It's not often a wayside pulpit gets 'tweeted' around the web. We should have had a collection box by the poster site, given the number of times it got snapped last weekend.  

Tea, coffee, cakes,bacon butties and live coverage inside
Car-free streets of Hebden Bridge outside the chapel
All cleared for a quiet Taizé service in the evening

Hundreds of wooden doves, stamped with our website address, tied with string and ready to give out as gifts to visitors after the TdF flies through town in a couple of hours time. 

Eco-evangelist George Monbiot chose to use the pulpit last night to deliver his compelling argument for 're-wilding' the countryside ... to a packed house in Hope Chapel.

I wonder what Rev John Fawcett would have thought. I'm sure he's have approved of returning our uplands and wild places to something nearer the richness of God's creation!

Monbiot on our side of the main road and Pantani at the Picture House on the other side of the road. The people of Hebden Bridge were certainly offered choice!

The poster's up.

OK, we didn't know about Sir Wiggo when we got it printed ... but the message should be clear:

This church is looking forward to an amazing weekend. 

Sybil and other, equally cheerful, individuals will welcome you to the 'Hope Collective' at Hope Chapel this weekend - all part of 'Open Studios in Hebden Bridge'. 

Yet another creative use for an old Baptist chapel:
Click here

Rahila shares 'Lentils and Little Legends' in the chapel last night - and Sid tries his hand at making chapatis.

The wonderful smells might linger for this morning's service ... but its an improvement on the beer barrel scent following the Blues Festival!

What a weekend!

Hope Chapel was rocking to the Blues until 1.30pm for three nights.

Midweek Meditation tonight and 'Still Point' on Sunday evening.

THAT is what this place is about. 

It's our pulpit ... but not as most preachers would expect. The Blues Festival is plugged into our new mega power socket ready for this evening. 

Paul Jones and Fiona Hendley share music and their personal Christian experiences at another 'Sanctuary Event' this evening.

Lots more to come. 

'.... there are some raised beds and a long stretch alongside Hope Street that are crying out for someone to make good use of them.'

Oooops!

We're new to using Evventbrite and forgot to tick the 'online sales' button:

'Live Juicy' expressive arts workshop on Sat 10th May
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/live-juicy-an-expressive-arts-workshop-tickets-11022501599

FREE Paul Jones event on Weds May 21st
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-with-paul-jones-tickets-11022210729

If you are interested or know of anyone who might be interested, please share this

Making a splash on Easter Sunday!

Five baptisms in our newly restored chapel.

Blues Festival in a month's time .... directly over the baptistry pool.

I think John Fawcett would have approved!

(Sermon/baptisms recording in 'Church Family' section)

https://www.facebook.com/events/419782758165971/

Not tried a spiritual labyrinth before?

Click here to find out more

Click here to say 'I'll try it'

Going up on the noticeboard this morning.

Singers packed the small counselling room for the first Taizé singing group this morning. Unaccompanied and multi-part - but not requiring prior experience. It sounded wonderful!

If you're not sure what this is about and what kind of songs are involved, check out these recordings from the monastery in France:  Click here

10.45am every Tuesday morning - all welcome. Contact Ralph for more details (rainbowralph@gmail.com)

'.... There are lots of places in Hebden Bridge that people can book and hold events. We have a space that has a unique quality so we feel that the most likely use of the place is for things that promote spiritual and emotional wellbeing.' 

Hebden Bridge Times, 20th February

We like meditation ... and candles.

First Monday Mindfulness starts on 3rd March at 7.00pm.

Still Point on 30th at 7.30pm.

Mid-Week meditation at 7.30pm. 

A highlight at today's Community Open Day: Calder Valley Voices unaccompanied in the chapel. The accoustics were perfect - and so was their singing!

Saturday 15th February
Community Open Day

Come and find out what's happened to our chapel since the builders moved in last July. You may be surprised to find out what a gem we have in Hebden Bridge.

Full programme in 'What's On' 

'... it was a pleasure to be involved in such a big project and was a joy to do ...'
http://www.cuttinedgecarpets.com/hope-baptist-church-hebden-bridge-renovation/

Yes, I know there are other reasons for joining our fellowship ... but CuttinEdge are offering a 20% discount to church members!

Girls done good: Hospitality for 150 after a wonderful rededication service. The place was buzzing.

A landmark event in the life of Hope Baptist Church.

'The Rev' up a ladder cleaning the memorial to his predecessor and even Vikki taking a break.
How good did it feel to get everyone in on Saturday to clean our renovated chapel?

Shhhh! Exam in progress.

Jean and her kitchen colleagues have been serving tea since around 1777, but even they have to comply with modern food hygiene regulations. 

Not the Lascaux Caves in France - but the entrance to the gent's loos at Hope Baptist Church.

It may be a while before we get the funds in place to fix this part of the building and the roof above, so we set our resident artist (Vikki) onto the task.

What would our friends at English Heritage and the Listed Buildings Committee make of this?