The Dereham Baptist Church recently unveiled a new entrance to the church from the town, made possible by a mystery benefactor who named the church in his will 20 years ago. The church began the project to repair its back wall in 2021 after concerns were raised about its integrity, with a heritage buildings officer recommending that the wall be rebuilt using Norfolk flint to maintain its listed building status. The church hired a specialist flint builder to complete the work, but the cost was higher than expected. Fortunately, the church received a generous donation from a local man named Trevor Emmins, who had named the church as one of three beneficiaries in his will, enabling the project to proceed.
Despite efforts to discover the connection between Emmins and the church, no link has been found. The church was grateful for the unexpected donation, attributing it to God’s intervention in providing for their needs. The new entrance not only provides wheelchair and pram accessibility to the church but also makes it more visible to the community. With entrances now accessible from all four directions in town, the church sees this development as significant for its outreach and engagement with the community. The unveiling of the new entrance was attended by various community members and supporters of the church, marking a milestone in the church’s history.
The church’s lead minister, Rev Nigel Bayley, expressed gratitude for the timely donation from Emmins, emphasizing the significance of God’s providence in planning the church’s needs years in advance. The project to repair and rebuild the back wall was essential for ensuring the safety and structural integrity of the church building. The church extended its planning permission to include the construction of a gateway through the wall as part of the new entrance, further enhancing accessibility and visibility. The community opening and joint service of praise with the Portuguese-speaking congregation marked a special occasion for the church as it celebrated the completion of the project.
The new entrance, with its wheelchair accessibility and increased visibility, symbolizes a new chapter for the Dereham Baptist Church as it continues to serve and engage with the local community. The generosity of the mystery benefactor, Trevor Emmins, played a crucial role in making the project possible, highlighting the importance of unexpected blessings in fulfilling the church’s mission. The church’s leadership and members are grateful for the support and contributions that made the new entrance a reality and are committed to using this opportunity to further strengthen their relationship with the community. As the church looks to the future, it remains dedicated to serving as a beacon of hope and faith in the town of Dereham.
