What comes after deconsecration and (26)

So yesterday I mentioned de-consecration, my nearest Christian Church (as opposed to Synagogue, or Temple ) is St Stephen's here you can see the old St Stephen's (de-consecrated)  and the one that's now working.

(1) The Old Church of St Stephen's 

And this is the new one - it's probably more 'fit for purpose' and looks a bit like a Youth Club (which it probably hosts) - I don't know how I'd feel if I'd been part of the congregation for 1 and now moved to 2?

I'm not a ' believer' but I wonder is the building relevant to the worship, can you get the same awe in such a functional setting?

In fact I see someone (a religious person who also has some of the discipline of an anthropologist) has asked and provided some answers to some of the  questions about the nature of 'formal' worship - from this it seems off putting doesn't it? 

I suppose this could be characterised by some as a form of noise and interference - others would see it to be more about getting in the zone and avoiding distractions.

(2) A Church for the 21st Century perhaps

So now £36.51

I see that St Stephen was made a saint as a result of his Martyrdom (he was stoned to death) -The Saint's day of St Stephen is for many branches of Christianity 26th December (Boxing Day).

There's a connection too to the idea of a place of worship  -as St Stephen says God does not live in a dwelling "made by human hands", referring to the Temple, he is using an expression often employed by Biblical texts to describe idols

It appears that St Stephen was a defender of the rights of widows.

A 'Special' Door

This ones a bit different and if Samaritans interest you take a listen to BBC radio programme where a Samaritan gives a bit of chat about what 'Listeners' do

26 Junction Road London  W5 - In fact the entrance is at the side 

De-consecration and (25)

So this is a rather fine looking church that is no longer a church

No longer God's House? (note the curtains)

Well oddly - as yesterday  I mentioned the United Reform Church -I find that this church was until 1991 that particular denomination.

Having seen it I realise that there are quite a large number of churches that are no longer used for worship (in a conventional sense anyway) - how does this work?

Another religious sign

The church was de-consecrated in 1991 I wonder is it that the congregation was too small (well you can see here an example of a flat there now) or that the money was needed to support the church?


Well de-consecration means that the site can be used for another building or the use can be then secular.

Oddly having looked up the procedure for the change of use service I saw a rather sparky interaction over the  Roman Catholic procedure but here's a reasonable run through of what might be done 

I suppose in reality that there are changes of use going on for churches near this one is a former cinema that's now a church - it's near St Aidan's Way. (the Irish Saint who restored Christianity to England - Saint's day 31st August ) 

Now at £35.50

More of the Doors

Corfton Road has number 25

The only information  on  Corfton that  I can find is that of a Shropshire village -the village being named for the nearby River Corve.

Through the branches we can see No. 25