Press Release

New owners of the former Radnor Park United Reformed Church

 

After a season of transition, the Radnor Park United Reformed Church (URC) building in Folkestone has been purchased by South Kent Community Church (SKCC). Having held services and launched outreach projects across the area since 1959, SKCC will begin meeting for Sunday worship and developing its community projects from its new premises from the 14th January 2018. SKCC remains committed to the previous owner’s ethos of using the building for Christian worship and enabling people to access support and develop friendships.

As an active member of Churches Together Folkestone and with strong connections to a number of churches in Hythe, SKCC partners in several local projects - including Folkestone Winter Shelter and a refugee response group. Since 2007, Christians Against Poverty (a national debt-counselling service operating from local bases) has been funded and solely-managed in Shepway by SKCC. To-date, it has served the needs of over 300 clients. SKCC also offers groups such as ‘Little Treasures’ toddler group, a twice-weekly Drop-in centre for the homeless, coffee mornings, ‘The Mill’ youth club and a programme of school-related activities.

For a considerable time, the Volunteer Centre Shepway has rented offices on the URC premises, overseeing a variety of community-engagement projects covering social clubs, exercise groups and wellbeing services. It is expected that over the coming months a new venue will be found to continue this excellent work. To this end, the Volunteer Centre and SKCC are working towards a shared aim of minimising the impact of current changes on the Centre’s existing services and maintaining provision to the community.

SKCC is delighted to have purchased the URC building - and grateful to all who have helped and supported the move, this includes the URC Southern Synod, the Volunteer Centre and of course some 250 people who are committed to SKCC.

James Coombs, (SKCC senior leader) says: 

“As a church family, we’ve waited and prayed for many years about taking on premises of our own, to be both a place for worship and also a base out of which to operate. We really look forward to growing fresh projects here and improving existing ones. Our aim will be to make sure that we offer to all the opportunity to experience God’s love, and that every member of this area-community feels both welcomed and supported.”

Janet Johnson, Project Manager at the Volunteer Centre says:

“The Volunteer Centre was pleased to learn of SKCC’s purchase of the premises and we look forward to working with them in the future.”

Sarah Webber, Chair of Churches Together in Folkestone says:

“We are delighted that SKCC are moving into this historic building and that it will continue to be used as a church, a place of worship and a place for the community. SKCC have always had the community at the heart of all they do and their many town wide projects build hope into the lives of the people they seek to help. This building will enable them to continue to serve the people of Folkestone and beyond.”