Re-built church is dedicated
A service of re-dedication and thanksgiving at Kings Road Evangelical Church at Berkhamsted was attended by 150 people.
The church, formerly known as Hope Hall, has been rebuilt at a cost of £8,000.
As the congregation grew, Hope Hall, the meeting place of Christian Brethren in Berkhamsted for nearly 100 years was renamed Kings Road Evangelical Church in 1964.
It was built in 1875, five years after a group of Christians first started meeting for a simple form of worship in a little room in Castle Street.
Among the congregation at the thanksgiving service were the chairman of Berkhamsted Urban Council, Councillor Allan Collier, representatives of local churches and members of Christian Brethren churches in Hemel Hempstead, St Albans and Aylesbury.
The preacher was Mr G. C. D. Howley, editor of The Witness a Bible-teaching magazine and the chairman was Mr P. D. Warren. Dr John Boyes was the chairman at an evening service, when the dedication prayer was said by Mr J. R. Watson. The organist for both services was Mr W. G. Rickett.
The architect of the new building, which has an enlarged community room and modern kitchen and cloakrooms, was Mr Michael Tollitt of Berkhamsted and the builders were A. L. Selden and Son of Hemel Hempstead.
Another feature of the church is a newly-built pool sunk into the floor of the assembly hall, for total immersion baptism.
There are between 50 and 60 regular worshippers at the church but already £3,500 toward the cost of rebuilding has been contributed.