Category: Heart of the Community

Heart of the Community Gift Day Update

Posted on by Laura Thomas

Updated 3 July

There has been an amazing response to Gift Day so far with an amazing £330k pledged, thank you! This will enable the work in St Michael’s Centre on the corridor to be completed and the kitchen to be installed, which is wonderful news!

Following a meeting of the trustees on Monday 29 June we will be giving away £33,000 (10%) and we have now instructed to the builder to complete the kitchen as well as the arches.

If you haven’t yet pledged, please do so if you can.  We still need to repay loans of over £1 million and would like to encourage regular giving via standing order, even a few pounds given every month will make a difference.

To set up a standing order, please use the following bank details:
Sort Code: 30-62-32 
A/C No: 348005560
Payee: St. Michael’s Church Centre Ltd HOTC
Reference: Surname

2 Corinthians 9:11: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”  

Of all the financial gifts made to the project, we’ve committed 10% to support our mission and outreach partners elsewhere in the UK and around the world, you can read more on the latest tithe donations made here.

Thanks to the Arches Volunteers

Posted on by Laura Thomas

On a very warm Thursday the staff team was supplemented by a great bunch of volunteers to clear the arches in St Michael’s Centre (Thanks to Phil, David, Andy, Freddie, Johnny, Jacob and Dan). 

We are now ready for the builders!  The foyer is now filled with items for re-storing in the new room configuration.

The ground floor Arches Corridor (beyond the Resources and Seminar Room), is the last remaining construction phase of  St Michael’s Centre.  

Finishing this work will bring five more rooms into use, plus a kitchen. This will meet the demand from our own ministry areas , as well as from external hirers. 

At their meeting on Monday 17 February 2020, the St Michael’s Centre Trustees agreed to award the contract to Stone BCI Ltd, the company that worked with us to complete the balcony and the offices.  Work was due to start in April, however this has been postponed due to Covid-19. We hope to make a start on it on 15 June.

Next phase of work at St Michael’s Centre

Posted on by Laura Thomas

The ground floor Arches Corridor (beyond the Resources and Seminar Room), is the last remaining construction phase of  St Michael’s Centre.   Finishing this work will bring five more rooms into use, plus a kitchen. This will meet the demand from our own ministry areas , as well as from external hirers. 

At their meeting on Monday 17 February 2020, the St Michael’s Centre Trustees agreed to award the contract to Stone BCI Ltd, the company that worked with us to complete the balcony and the offices.  Work will start in April 2020, and plans will be on display during March.

At the end of March, there will be an opportunity for everyone to view the space  as it currently is, to get an idea of what an amazing facility it will be once it is finuished.

There are other elements of the building still to complete (kitchen equipment, an improved air-handling system, audio equipment upgrades and retractable seating in the Auditorium) and there are still £1.375m of mortgages and loans to be repaid.

Please pray about how you can give regularly towards the St Michael’s Centre and for the upcoming Gift Day in May this year, which supports our  buildings and resources. 

Heart of the Community Gift Day 12 May 2019

Posted on by Laura Thomas







This Gift Day supports the resources and buildings for St Michael’s Church, as we aim to be a Christian heart at the centre of the community.

Living to make a difference, through discipleship, outreach and service.

Supporting:

  • The completion of St Michael’s Centre
  • The refurbishment and protection of St Michael’s Church
  • Upgrading the Old School Rooms
  • Mission in the UK and beyond.

Giving Thanks

  • St Michael’s Centre continues to thrive.
  • The Gift day in May 2018 has enabled work to start on the upstairs offices.
  • During 2018, we reapid £280,185 of capital off our loans, and £32,447 of interest on those loans.
  • We serve church and community groups, local and regional charities and businesses, and many more.
  • We have hosted many invitational events.
  • In 2019 we’ve donated £100,000 towards mission initiatives.
  • We’ve invested in renewing St Michael’s Church tower.
  • We’ve resources double glazing in the Old School Rooms Coffee Shop.

One Church, One Vision

  • Our vision is Living to make a difference by being a Christian heart at the centre of the community.
  • Our vision is realised by focusing on Discipleship, Outreach and Serving Our Community.
  • To make our vision happen, we hold 2 gift days a year. One in November to support day-to-day minsitry, and one in May to support our resources and buildings.

God has told us:

Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back, lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left.


Isaiah 54:2-3

Our aims

  • Develop the arches corridor, giving access to large meeting rooms, storage and kitchen to support large events and complete the Auditorium.
  • Upgrade the Old School Rooms kitchen facilities.
  • Support the refurbishments of St Michael’s Church building.
  • Continue to meet our mortgage obligations, and, if possible, repay some loans early.

What we’re asking now

  • Gift day is 12 May 2019.
  • We are continuing our journey of faith with the Heart of the Community project.
  • Please pray about what you are able to give. Together we can play our part. We can make more of a different across our community and beyond.

This appeal is an invitation

If you’re not yet giving…..

Some of us haven’t been able to support our resources and building project as yet. Could now be your time to begin giving?

If you’re new to St Michael’s…..

Maybe you’ve recently joined church and not yet grasped the vision to be a Christian heart at the centre of the community. Would you consider giving towards the development of the buildings and resources to enable the vision?

If you can give more…..

Some of us are in a better financial position than wehen the Heart of the Community project began. Please pray about increasing your giving.

What next?

Please download a pledge form here,

UK taxpayers can also complete a simple GiftAid form, which means the government will donate an extra 25% on top of your giving at no cost to you or the project.

If you would like to know more about any of the Heart of the Community project, how the money is spent, or help with ways to make one-off donations or arrange regular giving, please contact the church office.

HOTC Gift day 2019 by Laura Thomas