Staveley Methodist Church

Welcome!

Welcome to Central Methodist Church located in Chesterfield's town centre. Central is one of Britain's larger Methodist Churches, with acts of worship and other activities drawing people from across the Chesterfield area and beyond.

We believe that Jesus invites all to belong to the Kingdom of God, and seek to provide a welcome to all, irrespective of their background or particular understanding of the Christian Faith.

Normally Central is much more than just a Sunday Church, with a wide range of activities spread over the whole of the week.

During lockdown, our Church building is closed, but the Church continues in virtual mode. Physical gatherings on Sundays, for preaching and prayer, will resume as soon as guidance
allows.

Ministers

The ministers at Central are the Revd Sean Adair and Revd Mark Carrick.

Central's Life and Mission – In Normal Times

Emphasis is placed on preaching in both word and action. The Sunday morning service is the focal point of Central's life as a Christian family and is designed to provide thoughtful and varied worship, with provision for children and young people.

Being located in the town centre, outreach and service are important to the life of the church. During the week, 'Cornerstone', the church's Christian coffee bar and bookshop, provides an everyday welcome to visitors.

There are also weekday activities for Children and Young People, as well as opportunities for Christian Development; for building Fellowship, and for supporting Community facing projects.

A programme of refurbishments has recently been completed to make the building better suited to present-day needs.

Central's Life and Mission – During COVID-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has curtailed many activities, and led to changes in others, but the Church as a people has continued.

Physical Gatherings

Socially distanced services, which were taking place in the church hall each Sunday at 10:00 am and 11:30 am prior to the reintroduction of lockdown, will resume once permitted.

Plans are also being developed to re-open activities when possible, in compliance with Government Policy and subject to satisfactory completion of Risk Assessments.

Plans include:

• re-starting services on Friday lunch times.
• re-opening Cornerstone and the snooker room, providing opportunities for people to meet in a Covid-19 safe environment.

Central on-line

A number of activities currently take place on Zoom, and all are welcome:

• Evening service at 6:00pm each Sunday.
• J-Gang, for children and young people, fortnightly on Sunday mornings.
• Bible Study groups on Wednesday mornings (weekly), and Wednesday evenings (fortnightly) providing an opportunity to keep in touch.
• 'Celtic Morning Prayer' a half hour time of prayer and quiet every Wednesday morning.

Keeping in touch during lockdown.

While physical gathering is restricted, efforts are made to maintain contact and provide
pastoral care in new ways:

• Information on all activities is distributed by the Church Secretary via e-mail, or by post, every Wednesday.
• The Pastoral Visitors team maintains regular contact with members of the congregation.
• If you would like information to be sent to you or require contact for prayer or personal discussion, please use our contact form.

Covid-19 next steps

• Services will soon be live-streamed from the Sanctuary both online and into the hall. When permitted, this will allow for a larger congregation to meet across two physical locations.

Central's Building – a home for mission

Methodists have been worshipping on the Saltergate site since 1795. The present building dates from 1870 and is Grade II Listed, with the largest 'coffered ceiling' in the country.

A major redevelopment in the 1980s incorporated the most elegant of the historical features and provides an impressive space for worship. Nominal capacity in the sanctuary following redevelopment was 450. The redevelopment programme included a large hall, kitchen, and several meeting rooms. By then, the Church had recognised the importance of reaching into the community, and a coffee bar and Christian bookshop ('Cornerstone') were incorporated.

Over thirty years later, a significant improvement programme has just been completed, including provision of a new lift to allow full disabled access to the Sanctuary, installation of new sound and video equipment, refurbishment of Cornerstone and development of a new meeting room.

Central in more detail

Central normally offers its congregation and community a range of additional activities and opportunities throughout the week. These activities are grouped below, and the links to more detailed information will be enabled as re-opening occurs.

• Worship on Sunday mornings and Friday lunchtimes is led by an ordained Minister or an accredited Lay Preacher. Services are sometimes supported by a choir. The Floral Art Group is responsible for decorating the church throughout the year.
• Children and Young People. On Sundays a parent & toddler area is available in the sanctuary. Crèche, J-Gang and meetings for Teenagers also take place. On weekdays the Toddler Group, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides meet.
• Christian Discipleship. A range of activities includes: Bible Study; House Groups; Celtic Morning Prayer; Girls' Night In; Men's Breakfast; Sisterhood.
• Fellowship. Opportunities for meeting one another include: 'Boots & Routes' walking group; Short Mat Bowling; Snooker.
• Meeting the Community. Within the building 'Cornerstone' coffee bar and Christian bookshop opens during the week and 'Centerpoint' day-care operates in the church hall. The church is involved with and supports town centre charities e.g. Foodbank; Child Contact Centre; Roofstops; Pathways.
• Wider World. Central has an Eco-Group and supports Fair-Trade. The church also provides financial support to appropriate charitable causes through its 'Caring for Others' programme.

More information on what's happening at Central is available on the ' Latest News ' page and on Central's Facebook page.