Chaos? Stress? Uncertainty? Confusion? 
Our chapel certainly does not look its best right now, having been flooded like so many other premises in the town, but we’re open for business.
If you want a time and place to sit quietly, to reflect, to pray or to be prayed for, just come in. We aim to be open between 12.00am – 2.00pm.
Open to people of all faiths or no faith
Email requests to:  prayers@hope-baptist.org.uk

Three heroines of Hebden Bridge help to get Hope Chapel open.

Flooded or not, from tomorrow, we will be providing a sanctuary space for everyone and anyone. 

A gang of volunteers gets to grips with the layer of mud and wet carpets in the community rooms.

It's heart-warming and moving to see such community spirit. We love this place and these people!

The clear-up starts. Who needs International Rescue when you've got Joan and Muriel?

Note the fine new floor covering in the Ebenezer Room, which seems sound. £6K-worth of pew cushions safely stored upstairs too.

Step-by-step!

Dawn breaks on the 27th December 2015 at Hope Baptist Church - established 1777.

The flooding's worse than 2012, with over a foot of water throughout the ground floor, including the chapel.

The building is a mess, but we remain 'Christ Centred - Community Focused'.

The chapel space may be closed ... but the church is a bunch of people and we're alive and well. Super candelit service this evening. Thank you music group and Allan for leading and an inspring message.

Great effort everyone with the Christmas Fayre, which replaced the Christmas Tree festival at short notice. Sybil's clutching the few remaining knitted nativity figures - and is pleased to announce - for those who entered the competitions - that the price of hamper was valued at £47.26 and cake weighed 5lb 12 ozs

If you missed this lot at tonight's carols in the garden session - you can still hear them at the Candlelit Carol Service on Sunday 20th.

Next stop, X Factor!

Somewhat constrained and reduced by the lack of our chapel space - but we're still celebrating this important and meaningful time of year.

Do join us!

Today's Hebden Bridge Times

We really ARE working hard to reopen when safe to do so. In the meantime, the show DOES go on - even if slightly changed. 

.... but this event is still on! It will be more house party style in the rooms at the back, rather than pews on the chapel. 

We've been tackling problems with the recent repair work over the past few months, involving water coming down the walls behind the pulpit and a sagging truss resulting from failure to spot dry rot during timber testing. It's got a whole lot worse this week, with new plasterwork crashing to the floor!

You can imagine that we are shocked and frustrated that we now need to rearrange plans for our Christmas programme. The chapel space will be closed for the moment, although use of the community rooms in the back remains unaffected.

Bear with us - and pray with us if you feel able - as we work with architects, funders and specialists to plan a way forward. 

Book online, either with Eventbrite (Click here) or show 'Going' on Facebook (Click here) and pay on the door

Yes - it is that time of year.

Harvest at Hope today.

Celebrate the season!

Monday 21st September
International Day of Peace
Drop in between 3.00-6.00pm
- Use a prayer sheet
- Light a candle
- Make a peace pinwheel
- Just sit quietly and reflect

An electrifying performance in front of 250 people last night from Guardian columnist Owen Jones, discussing 'The Politics of Hope'. And on day after Jeremy Corbyn's stunning victory: What timing!

A super contribution from our heritage day - a blast from 1974. Thank you Eileen Crombie.

Now every Wednesday evening. An informal reflective service with short readings, music, prayers, candles and lots of silence.

The chapel will remain open afterwards for those wishing to spend more time in silent meditation.

September
2nd  'Joy'
9th   'Friendship'
16th 'Journeying'
23rd 'Hope'

A different view of the garden en route to checking problems on the roof and gable end - part of the next phase of repair works. 

http://hebdenbridgeartsfestival.co.uk/owen-jones/

The politics of Hope @ The Hope!

The first of a series .... a month away .... and already sold out!

Members of our church congregation have many gifts - and this is one of Tim's. It's also a great example of what 'spiritual and emotional wellbeing' can look like.

For parents with kids who are starting to get bored with the summer break, this is a 'must'. 

One of the break-out groups gets to grips with the challenges and opportunities for community action at 'Solutions to Austerity' yesterday. Watch out for the next meeting date - and a chance to get involved.  

Strawberry teas move out after another successful afternoon of 'Open Gardens' - and 'Darkher' move in for band practice. Next weekend the place becomes an art exhibition for 'Open Studios'.  

Brilliant weather for a super 'Open Gardens' event that tested our new benches under the trees. Eat you heart out 'Last of the Summer Wine'.

Janet says: 'Whether you’re 55 or 95, it is never too late to take up yoga. You are only as old as you feel! Get the most out of your “golden years” – now that you finally have time to do something for yourself and your own physical and mental development.'

The church worship group makes its debut this morning - with great success. Note Katie's wonderful strawberry guitar and, tucked away (bottom-right), Sid's 'Harry' ... the coolest dog in Hebden Bridge.

Thank you Stuart Townend and friends for an amazing evening of music. A member thought is was 40 years since 250 people attended a worship event at Hope Chapel. 

In her younger days, Jean was a dab hand with a medium format camera. This is one of her glass slides from the 1950s of a Bible Society celebration event by the children from Hope Baptist. 

Hope Chapel - a great venue for a great Hebden Bridge Folk Roots Festival 2015

OK - so we know about our government
Now for the important vote!
https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/1298/

Saturday 30th May at Hope Baptist Chapel

One of only a few performances in the UK by this internationally renown and outstanding songwriter:

- How deep the father's love for us
- In Christ alone my hope is found
- The power of the cross
- Who is there like you
- The Lord's my Shepherd
- There is a hope

www.stuarttownend.co.uk

Order tickets (£12):
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-with-stuart-townend-tickets-16237400502

Have a look at 'Day 18'

http://www.baptist.org.uk/Groups/252920/40_Days_of.aspx

We really, really like receiving letters like this one!

 

I hope no-one's bursting to use the loo.  If so, pop back around the beginning of May.

Connie ... Hope Baptist Church member ... at 94 ... becomes a pin-up in the Hebden Bridge Times as a founder of a lunch club in the area.

What a star and what a great example of serving the needs of our local community.

We sent the poster off to the printers - then heard that the great man has just died.

Tomorrow (1st March) is the next 'Home Grown'. We are working our way through a series of recorded messages about the book of 'Romans' - and we discover about being faithful, passionate and useful.

No need to be a Bible scholar. All welcome.

This Sunday evening - for half an hour of reflections, prayers, music and silence.

This week's theme is 'Surrender'.

Everyone and anyone is welcome.

If you missed yesterday's showing of 'The Cross' - no problem: Click here

But, I'm afraid you're out of luck about the pie 'n peas!

Mocktails at the Caribean Beach Bar on 'Blue Monday', just like in most old Baptist chapels .... NOT

This week's Hebden Bridge Times

... and now including mini-make-over with the help of friends from Body Shop

Resolutions for the New Year?

'Release Your Voice' is the first in a series of events booked for January. Also to follow:

'Blue Monday' - Beat the blues on 19th January 6.00-8.00pm

'The Cross' - Video message from Billy Graham (and pie+peas) 24th January 3.00-5.00pm