Yew Tree Lane, Dukinfield, Cheshire SK16 5BJ (1973)
Old Road (1755)
Welcome
History
The original site of the Moravian Church in Dukinfield was on Old Road. There were, in fact, three churches on the land, the first being built in 1751, and the last in 1860. Across the road was also a Sunday School building which acted as the local junior school.
In 1956, a letter was sent from the local council to all the Dukinfield churches, offering a disused farmhouse at the bottom of Yew Tree Lane to be used as a Sunday School and Youth Centre. A new housing estate was springing up in the Yew Tree Lane area and, after discussion, the church committee and minister, Br Tom McQuillan took up the offer. The Sunday School started in February 1957 and was an immediate success with 119 people attending the first service. The farmhouse was eventually replaced by a disused army hut in 1959.
In 1967, after dry rot had been found in the Old Road church, and because many families had moved away from the area to be re-housed on the Yew Tree Lane estate, a decision was made to relocate to Yew Tree Lane, and so 5 years of labour began with the men and women of the congregation giving up their evenings, weekends and holidays to build the church we have today. This was consecrated in March 1973 and the Old Road land sold. All that can be seen of the original settlement today is the burial ground on Moravian Close.
Present Day
We have a busy church these days (See Church Calendar below). The regular Sunday service takes place at 11.00am which includes the Sunday School and crèche. Holy Communion is included in Family Worship on the first Sunday of every month at 11.00am, except for the months of January, May and September, when Holy Communion will be included with Lovefeast at 3.00pm. Guiding and Scouting groups meet weekly, a Mums’ and Tots’ Group is held on Tuesday mornings during term time and the Friday Youth Club runs for children aged 5 – 10 years. The Thursday Group and Moravian Women’s Association hold monthly meetings for the women of our congregation and their friends. Social and fundraising events regularly take place.
Messy Church
Approximately four times a year, we run a Messy Church aimed at all children in the neighbourhood and their adult relative(s). Each one has a theme, usually a bible character, and each session starts with the playing of table games, then we move on to craft making activities, followed by a short, informal service and lunch – all free of charge to the participants.
New Kitchen
In the summer of 2011, we applied for and were successful in receiving a grant from the National Lottery to enable us to rip out the old church kitchen and start again with modern electrics, an appliance that provides boiling water ‘on tap’, our very first fridge freezer, new cooker and microwave as well as modern and streamlined kitchen units.
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