Christchurch Ogmore Vale
Methodist & United Reformed Church
Sunday Worship 10-30am & 5pm
Sunday School 11am
Lay person in pastoral charge
REV. GORDON SOLLIS (Superintendent) Tel: (01656) 725717
E-mail gordon.sollis@methodist.org.uk
Hymn Books used Hymns & Psalms
The Church is open during the week
for evening group meetings and services.
Mission to our Community
'Pathfinders' for young people, 10-30am Sundays.
Sisterhood 2nd Tuesday of the Month, and the 'Allsorts' meet every Wednesday during School Terms.
Credit Union Mondays 10am -12noon,
Coffee Morning / Jumble Sale on the third Thursday of the month 10am-12noon. Also on this Thursday we hold a service at a local nursing home, conducted by our lay worker. Many members of the congregation are involved with the local community, helping with the Welfare Hall, singing in Choirs, committee members of The Blind, Housebound and Pensioners Clubs.
Christchurch is an active member of the council of Churches which organises Lenten study, Holy week services, and quarterly United services which promotes the love of Christ within the valley.
The church is used by a local Art & Sewing group, also a group of young people use the building to practise as a singing and music band.
Alongside our commitment to Christian Aid and other such causes Christchurch is deeply involved with its local community.
Ogmore Vale
Once at the heart of the coal mining industry this valley church has seen many changes over the last century. The most recent being the combining of the Methodist & U.R.C. traditions to form Christchurch.
This warm friendly congregation will greet you with the open arms of Christ's Love.
History
2007 saw the chapel centenary
The centenary celebrations were for the second of the chapels built on the site in Cuthbert Street, Ogmore Vale, Bridgend. The original chapel, Bethel Primitive Methodist Chapel was opened in 1877. So it is really a double celebration(130 and 100 years). The original chapel now serves as a schoolroom and vestry.
In 1877, when first opened, Bethel was an ordinary open plan oblong building with enough space for 200 people. Two very well attended services were held on a Sunday, and one mid-week, and several other church activities soon followed.
By the time of the Welsh revival, Bethel was bursting at the seams so it was agreed to build another chapel on an adjoining site. Opened in 1907 the new chapel, with a balcony, could seat in excess of 300 people. Later an organ was purchased at the cost of £165 to enhance the singing and to support the chapel choir.
Down through the years the chapel has served the valley folk faithfully and has been served itself by many faithful and loyal members and ministers. It has also become a united congregation due to the closure, for many reasons, of local places of worship. Wesleyan Methodists, Presbyterian, and English Congregational worshippers have come together to make the active, charitable, outgoing Christian community that it is today
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