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In 1995 the building caught fire due to an electrical fault. Although the outside of the structure was not too badly damaged, the inside was gutted. Only the back hall, cramped and in poor condition, was useable. The local supermarket offered to buy the premises and rebuild the church elsewhere, but then withdrew. Over 7 years, tremendous effort was put in to exploring alternatives that came to nothing. Some people gave up hope and went elsewhere. This meant less income so that there was not enough money to pay a pastor.
The church survived these and many other difficulties partly through the help of Revd Richard Steel, who postponed his retirement to be our part-time,  transitional minister. Then, in January 2003, with Home Mission support, Revd Jane Kingsnorth was appointed as full-time minister. Six months later building work started. In spite of the heat from the fire, the stained glass window behind the worship area remained intact and is now back in position. This photo was taken during construction of the new mezzanine floor which now forms the main worship area.
A new vision - the George Street Centre
Putting together the finance for this ambitious project involved much hard work and determination. Through God’s generous providing, all was set in  place, and we moved back into our building, now renamed the George Street Centre, in August 2004.
Molly Jelley, our longest-serving member, cut the ribbon before our first service at the George Street Centre.
At the time, the local press called it "Quiet Baptist Miracle on George Street".
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