What's our history
About Us
HERE'S A LITTLE OF OUR HISTORY
Back in late 2013 David & Cath (our Pastors) visited an old, disused factory which was part of a number of units in Blackburn known as Red Rose Court.
[image:image-0]Almost immediately David knew that this was the right place to establish Blackburn Vineyard Church’s ministries. Cath thought he was ‘off his rocker’, as the place hadn’t been used for at least 8 years and was in a real mess.
But not being put off, they pursued the acquisition of the building from the town council thanks specifically to the support of the Council Leader Kate Hollern and Councillor Phil Riley, who caught hold of the vision to introduce the Children’s Storehouse and later, other ministries that would help the community of Blackburn.
Thus began the very long haul of renewing and renovating the building to make it ‘fit for purpose’, but on a very small budget and with a very small number of volunteers. The Children’s Storehouse was to be housed downstairs and was the priority.
Almost as soon as the Storehouse was up and running work started on upstairs : a comfortable lounge to enable formal and informal meetings; a ‘Light Room’[image:image-2]
– for people to come who suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder); a games room for children and youth activities, particularly to house our popular ‘CRAFTERNOONS’; a crèche, and a larger space to meet corporately for worship, for training and educational courses. [Check out the promo presentation below]
In March 2015 the work was complete and we held out first ‘formal’ event – an evening of Thanksgiving and Praise and an opportunity for people to see the facilities. This was our place of worship for the next 4 years. Then we sensed God calling us to the Higher Croft / Roman Road Estate.
After a twelve month period of prayer walking on the estate and holding a few events, we felt led to move there for worship in March 2019