1976 – 2005
Recorded events from February 1977 to November 2005
1977
February 3rd
Administrative Committee of the ‘Fellowship of Baptist Churches’ held at West End where two members of the five participating Churches (West End, Westbury Leigh, Bratton, Rudge and Rode) met to appoint a secretary and treasurer.
October 8th
Induction of Rev Chris Friend.
October 9th
Rev C Friend commences his Ministry at West End.
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Christopher Friend
(Pastor from 1977 – 1982)
1981
Roof repairs to the main Church and Hall carried out by Messrs Roof Bond of Cardiff at a cost of £2,691.
NB. The above repairs consisted of gluing foam blocks to the underside of each roof slate and the tile batten to prevent the slates slipping off the roof, there being no underfelt.
1982
September 16th
Electric organ, purchased from St Andrews Church Melksham, to be installed at a cost of £1,150, part of this expense being met by an anonymous loan of £1,000.
1983
January 20th
Rev C Friend resigns as Minister of West End.
December
West End withdraws from the Westbury Fellowship of Baptist Churches.
1984
January
Rev W Cooke (Minister of Westbury Leigh Baptist Church) to be Moderator at West End.
1986
A new gas boiler installed by the Gas Board at a cost of £3,039.
NB. Previously the boiler was oil fired.
1987
Rev. Ken Witting preached with a view to the Pastorate.
1988
Rev. Ken Witting commenced his Ministry.
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Kenneth Witting
(Pastor from 1988 – 1993)
Spring
A Condition Survey of the Church undertaken by P Payne, Surveyor (Deacon). This survey has some 25 photographs showing details of the Church at that time.
September
Rev. K Witting purchased his own property in Bratton Road, therefore the manse at Eden Vale was vacant. It was decided to modernise the manse while vacant. The work included installing central heating, enlarging the kitchen and installing kitchen units, carpeting and redecoration throughout, part of the work being undertaken by volunteer labour. The projected cost of this work was £4,000, it was therefore agreed to apply for a loan of £5,000 from WESBA to cover these costs.
1989
September
Church internally redecorated by Mr Gough, Painter and Decorator, at a cost of £4,727, Church loft insulated.
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The Church interior c.1988, shortly before the 1989 redecoration to a blue colour scheme.
1990
September 13th
Manse let at £250 per month.
1991
May
Discussion at Church Meeting about possible removal of pews, the majority considered the pews should stay.
1992
July
An overhead projector purchased at a cost of £193.
July 16th
A public address system to be installed at a cost of £2,462.
1993
Rev Ken Witting concluded his ministry.
1994
May 12th
Church Meeting agreed to invite Rev Graham Warmington to the Pastorate.
September 3rd
Ordination and Induction of Rev. Graham Warmington.
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Graham Warmington
(Pastor from 1994 – 2009)
1995
March
A ‘Safe to Grow’ practice for the protection of children in our care adopted by the Church.
March 25th
‘Webbers’ youth work for 7 –11 year old launched.
1996
Letters reading ‘BAPTIST CHURCH’ fixed to the front of the Church.
1997
Replacement kitchen units purchased by Vera Barton, fitted by Phil Payne.
1998
September
Plans to develop the rear of the Church proposed at an approximate cost of £15,000, pledges to cover most of this cost quickly made, work to commence in April/May 1999.
November
Future Ministry at West End, Rev Graham Warmington invited for a further 3 years.
1999
May
Tender from Messrs C.J. Deighton accepted at £21,190 to provide new male and female toilets, plus access and toilets for the disabled. Pledges of £27,000 made by the people of the Church to cover the building costs.
August
Building work for the above commenced.
Church records to be placed with the County Archivist for safe keeping.
November 21st
Church Anniversary. Town Mayor opened new toilets.
2000
New Year, Millennium
Church purchased 100 candles, to keep or give to others. Town Service 6.00pm High Street.
January
Minister had produced enhanced photos of Ministers from 1839 to the present day, these displayed in the vestry.
September
Tender to re-slate the main Church roof accepted from Messrs A.L. King at £10,642.
November
Rev. Graham Warmington taking 3 month sabbatical.
2001
May
Replacement UPV double glazed windows installed by Messrs Roman Windows at £11,776, motifs for these windows being designed by Joanne Warmington and David Shears. The cost of the windows coming from voluntary donations, including gifts given in memory of four people.
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4 of the 5 designs for the new windows based on significant celebrations in the Church calendar: Easter, Pentecost, Harvest & Christmas. Each design appears twice (each on opposing sides of the building). The fifth design is a simple blue cross installed in the 2 front windows.
July
Prayer Ministry. A quiet area designated at the rear of the Church with two people available for those requesting prayer after morning worship.
November
Rev. G Warmington invited to stay as Pastor for an indefinite time.
2002
September
Agreed to purchase 144 chairs from Messrs Winscombe Furniture at a cost of £8,470 for the Church Sanctuary to replace wooden pews.
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A view of the pine pews just prior to their removal.
Note the pew runners that had been obtained during 1989 from Brown Street Baptist Church, Salisbury to prevent people sticking to the varnish during hot weather.
September
Church hosted a ‘Get Real’ course, (also in 2003).
2003
July
Floor boards lifted in Church Sanctuary, packing timbers removed, and floor boards re-laid to form a level floor, (previously higher at pew positions). Work undertaken by volunteer labour. Carpet fitted in Church Sanctuary.
August
Replacement UPVC door fitted at the Manse by Messrs New Windows.
2004
January
Church Meeting agreed not to apply for a Home Mission Grant for 2005.
Agreed to purchase a ‘Multi-Media’ Projector.
2005
February
First ‘Café Church’ service held, (with informal seating and coffee being served during service).
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Typical ‘Café Church’, these services being held approx. six times per year.
July
Charity Meal held at Church, speaker Dr Andrew Murrison MP. £450 raised for work of ‘Smile International’.
November
Church Meeting. It was agreed to replace the wooden sash windows in the School Room, Kitchen and Vestry (Vestry leaded lights) with UPVC windows from Messrs New Windows at a cost of £3,353.