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The WIVENHOE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
CELEBRATED 40
YEARS ON ITS PRESENT SITE The 14th July 1962 saw the Congregational
Church hold its dedication and opening ceremony for this new building.
Exactly 40 years later, to mark the occasion, members past and
present, together with guests from the Methodist and Church of England
attended a celebration tea and service. Among those attending were members of Colchester, Old
Heath Congregational Church, who are in joint Pastorate with the Wivenhoe
church under the leadership of Pastor Patrick Baxter. Guests were welcomed to this celebration and during the
teatime were shown slides of the building work in 1962 together with
pictures of the dedication and opening service. Among the guests attending were Mr & Mrs Leslie
Kemble, who as members of the church, as well as being the builder who
undertook the work of erecting this modern building on this picturesque
site. During the
course of the service thanks were expressed to those 1962 members who had
the vision and supported the move from West Street to its present
position. Members of the church were delighted to welcome back
for this celebration the Rev. Chris Damp who was joined with others who
shared in the life of the church over the past 40 years. The evening service was a joyous occasion with some 80 friends sharing in the worship service. The Church reflected upon the words of the apostle Peter who had declared to Jesus, “you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”. To which Jesus replied, “You are Peter and on this rock will I build my church”. The congregation were reminded that the true church is built upon the truth that Peter had revealed, namely that Jesus was the Christ. The life and fellowship of the church needs to reflect on that truth especially within the materialism of today’s society. Christ has promised that the church shall never die no matter what events may occur but will live on till Christ comes again. Patrick Baxter
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