After backing the campaign to save New Bevan Baptist Church, Theresa Villiers, Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet, has expressed her delight that the church in New Barnet will not close after all.
The church’s building on Grove Road in New Barnet is owned by the London Baptist Association. Since 2001, it has been shared with the Barnet Christian Fellowship (BCF). The Baptist congregation closed in August 2017 because of falling numbers. The Barnet Christian Fellowship were told that they could continue to use the church building, but only on a temporary basis. The London Baptist Association then received an offer by a developer to buy the building, meaning the BCF would be left without a home.
Following the successful ‘Save Our Church’ campaign, the Barnet Christian Fellowship has been able to secure the sole use of the church building after the London Baptist Association agreed to sell it to a charity who will maintain it as a centre for the Barnet Christian Fellowship.
Theresa Villiers said “It is fantastic news that the church will be saved. This is thanks to the work of Diane Druce, Natasha Mercer and the Barnet Christian Fellowship. The church is such an important centre for the local community in this part of New Barnet. It would have been a big setback to lose it. I am so pleased I was able to support the successful campaign to save the church.”
The Barnet Christian Fellowship is a church group headed by Revd Diane Druce which provides outreach work in the community and offers support services to young families, the elderly and vulnerable residents.
Theresa Villiers visited the church earlier this month to see at first-hand the work undertaken by the Barnet Christian Fellowship and signed its petition in support of the ‘Save Our Church’ campaign. Theresa Villiers also urged the London Baptist Association to save the church and keep it open.