Celebrating more than 350 years of witness
Minister
Currently the post is vacant.
Services
Sunday worship 10:45 am
What's On
Tuesdays
First Tuesday of the month Deacons meeting (unless otherwise advised)
Kenny Karate 6.30pm (children’s class) 7.30pm (family class)
Wednesdays
Recovery Rhythms drumming group 7pm - 9pm
Thursdays
Kenny Karate 6.30pm (children’s class) 7.30pm (family class)
Fridays
10am to 11am Zumba/Pilates class
2pm to 4pm Table tennis social group
Saturdays
Friendship Choir 10.30 am to 12 noon alternative Saturdays - See Facebook
If you require any further information regarding these activities you can contact Peter Butler email butler.peter55@gmail.com
Who's who
Secretary - Joy Dean (Trustee)
Treasurer - Margaret Fowler (Trustee)
Other Deacons -
Ian Bairstow - Chair of Trustees
Peter Butler (Trustee)
Liz Dean (Trustee)
David Hopkins
Gail Waterhouse
June Deacon's Meeting Minutes
Deacons’ Meeting Tuesday 3rd June 2025 7:30 p.m.
Opening devotions led by our minister
Mr Bairstow chaired the meeting
Church family news was discussed.
Apologies: None. All deacons present
Approval of Minutes from meeting held 1st May: The Minutes were approved by the Diaconate, proposed Mr Butler, seconded Mr Paulley.
Mr Bairstow signed the Minutes as a correct record of that meeting.
Matters Arising
Maintenance update – church roof: Michael Kenny the roof specialist
had forwarded an email to say maintenance work & repairs to the slates & corroded ridge vents will take place around July/ August. The estimated
total cost of 2k-2.5k was agreed in May.
Social activities update: Mr Paulley reported everyone on the train trip
had a good time in spite of the steam train being replaced by a diesel due
to the unusually hot weather. A 49 seater coach has been booked for the
day trip to Llangollen 14th June. A cream tea & silent auction is being
arranged for 19th July from 2:30 - 4p.m. The cost will be £3 for adult & £1
for children.
Anniversary Service: Comments had been received on the excellent
353rd anniversary service led by our minister with communion led by
Revd. Dean who also welcomed Mr & Mrs Ewart into church membership,
offering the right hand of fellowship on behalf of Greenacres.
Ministry update: There had been problems with the alarm code in the
church hall & church email address, these have now been resolved. The
office has been cleared and remaining items moved upstairs for storage.
Mrs Ewart will meet with Mr Butler to try to resolve the log in problems
on the Church’s Facebook page & website.
There were no other matters arising
Treasurer’s Report May 2025
Total Income £2,969
Total Expenditure £3,559
Income: Offertory £1,677 – Springhead Cong Church £293 – Room Hire £565 –
Donation £50 – Easy Fundraising £19 – Christian Aid Collection £165 – Coffee Collections £50 – Funeral Fee £150
Expenditure: Stipend £1,466 – pension £28 – Minister’s Expenses £40 – Cleaner £270 – Gas £210 – Electricity £93 – Broadband £28 – Dr Kershaw’s Dementia Hub £500 – SO Energy -Manse £34 – Christian Aid Collections Aid Coll £165. Coffee £600 total £765 – PAT Testing £50 – Preaching Fees/Expenses £50 – Sundry Expenses £25.
We have received a letter of thanks from Christian Aid for our generous donation of £765. Dr Kershaw’s Hospice has also sent a letter of appreciation for the Easter charity donation of £500 to their Dementia Hub.
Miss Fowler wished to record grateful thanks to Mrs Lewis, treasurer of
Springhead for setting up new payroll accounts and pension for our minister. Revd. Dean asked Mr Butler, treasurer of the N.W. Area if the Area puts money aside for ministers ‘pensions. He believes this is only for accredited ministers on the C.F. payroll.
Correspondence & Coffee
Emails from the Cong. Fed. had been forwarded to deacons throughout
May.
Letter of thanks from Jay Senior, Christian Aid Fundraising Lead.
Letter of thanks from Rachel Riley, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.
Church Matters.
Items from QCM. Church vision meetings: Our minister has headed this
as “Getting to know you” sessions. Greenacres deacons will meet for the
first session on Weds 11th June from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Each session will
focus on five core areas of church life. The first session will look at
worship, discipleship, prayer, community and outreach. The second session
on Tues 17th June will concentrate on growth and forward vision.
Whit Sunday arrangements: The service at Springhead will be led by
our minister from 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. We are then invited to St Thomas’
Church at Leesfield for a joint service for Pentecost at 11:45 a.m.
Dance Troupe: No contact has been made from the dance troupe at the
community centre regarding use of our church hall. Mr Paulley will
contact them.
Preparations for the Induction Service 5th July: The preparations are
in hand for this service. Invitations have been forwarded to those who led
services and handed out to our members and adherents. Mrs Ewart also has a number of invites for family andfriends. Mr Ewart will set up the link for those who wish to watch on zoom.
Catering will be for approx.120 people. Mrs Thompson from Springhead has kindly taken charge of this. People can donate food or money towards the buffet. We will also decorate the tables with flowers. We have chosen Cwm Rhondda for the Greenacres hymn. Mr Bairstow will offer the right hand of fellowship on behalf of Greenacres and Mrs Bairstow will be asked to offer the centuries old silver spoon to our minister, following in the footsteps of both her mother and father at previous induction services.
Any other business:
Mr Butler’s daughter would like to hire the church hall for a flower wreath making event, if possible, a weekday evening
towards the end of November.
Our minister’s day off during the week will be Wednesdays.
Mr Paulley mentioned Mr Shillito who had given a talk on Autism had
generously donated his fee to church. Our treasurer has written to thank
him.
Date of next monthly meeting: Tuesday 1st July at 7:30 p.m. Mr Bairstow
thanked everyone for their attendance. There was no further business and the meeting closed at 8:50 p.m. with everyone sharing ‘The Grace’
History
A brief history of Greenacres Congregational Church
Greenacres Congregational Church is in East Oldham, less than a mile from the town centre. The Church has a very long and proud history, a history which spans virtually the whole period of non-conformity in this country.
The beginnings can be traced to the Act of Uniformity in 1662, which set out the beliefs and practices to which all Ministers of the Church had to subscribe. There were many whose consciences would not allow them to do so, and they were summarily ejected from their livings. One of those ejected in 1662 was the Reverend Robert Constantine, the Minister of Oldham Parish Church. In 1672 he began preaching to the people of Greenacres in a thatched cottage. After a short time they moved to a larger building nearby, and in 1699 yet again. In the 1780’s, as the cause flourished, it became evident that those premises were inadequate and a decision was made to erect a larger and better Chapel suited to the requirements of the Congregation and the surrounding community. This was opened in 1785. The Church continued to grow and in 1822 major alterations were carried out to provide larger and better facilities. A Sunday School had been operating in conjunction with the Church since 1812 but had outgrown its premises. Plans were made for the building of a new Sunday School, which was completed and opened in 1851. In August 1853 the Church Meeting decided that a new Chapel ought to be built containing 800 seats and at a cost of £2000. The new building was opened in August 1854, and is the one still in use today. In the 1970’s it became clear that the struggle to maintain two old buildings (the Church and Sunday School) was adversely affecting the health of the Church, and after much heart searching it was decided to sell the School and convert the Church into a dual-purpose building. Ironically, after disposing of the Sunday School it was found that more room was needed for Church activities, and in 1982 a multi-purpose hall was added to the Church. In 1991, a major reconstruction and renovation of the Church premises began after a severe infestation of dry rot was found. The Church was completely renewed, a new first floor was added, a lounge and Minister’s office replaced the old vestries and a new entrance tower constructed.
