Shailesh Vara MP recently met with the Rev Sylvia Kinder to discuss plans for the new Christ the Servant King Church in Hampton Vale.

Mr Vara is backing the campaign by the Christian community in Hampton to build a new church and in his meeting with Rev Kinder, Mr Vara pledged his continuing support to the venture.

The new church will not only serve as a focal point for the Christian community but also as a place for other community activities, including having a cafe.

The church building will cost an estimated £1.65 million and the Hampton congregation is working hard to raise the outstanding sum of £70,000 to enable completion in April 2014.

The fundraising activities are being led by Rev Kinder and a recent idea was to give the congregation £10 each and ask them to increase this in any way they thought possible. In very little time the £510.00 outlay had turned to over £3000. Donations for any amount can be made either through the Church’s website (www.hamptonchurch.co.uk) or by post, and offers or any other help would be welcome.

Mr Vara said: -

“Rev Sylvia Kinder has been working exceptionally hard, along with her growing congregation in Hampton, to raise the necessary funds for the church building and the project has my full backing.

The new church will play an important role in the area and I am particularly pleased that as well as being a place of worship for the Christian community, the facilities will also be available more generally for community activities.

The role of faith is often overlooked in today’s ever-changing world and for new communities like the one at Hampton, a local support network such as the one to be provided by the Church is absolutely essential.

Donations can be made in person, via the congregation’s website or by post and I would encourage local residents to play their part in this very worthwhile project.”

Rev Sylvia Kinder commented:

"We at Christ The Servant King Church want this building to be a place where people feel welcomed and included. We've had fantastic support from the local community, who have given significant time, money, encouragement and support to this project already. We have already raised over £90,000 towards the £165,000 needed to fit the building out with chairs, multi-media and sound system, cafe area, office etc. Our small committed fund-raising team is continuing to work hard to bring in the final finances to enable all our plans. We look forward to having a building from which we can meet social and spiritual needs, including a community cafe with crèche area, where we celebrate the highs of life together and provide support through the lows. Anyone and everyone, all ages, will be welcome here. Local uniformed organisations, a pre-school and ladies group have already expressed a desire to use the building."