A Cumbrian church affected by Storm Desmond in 2015 has come up with a novel way to house its Sunday School.
Carlisle Baptist, an FIEC church in the city, has been struggling for space since the school building it was using for Sunday services was flooded during the devastating storm. A record-breaking 13.4 inches of rain fell within 24 hours in parts of the county, and more than 3,000 homes were flooded in the city.
Having previously outgrown its chapel building, the congregation had been meeting at the school for three and a half years, so it came as a blow when the school had to be shut for refurbishment.
With no other options, the church had to squeeze back into its cramped chapel, but, despite some modifications being made to accommodate Sunday services, there was little space for other activities.
Then, one day earlier this year, Pastor Pete Walkingshaw heard about The Souter Charitable Trust – a charity that, among other things, donates old buses to community groups.
Pete filled out an application form and was surprised to quickly receive an offer of a double-decker.
He said: ‘Everything happened so fast that I had to move quickly to bring all members up to speed with the vision for the bus.
‘Within a short space of time I got a phone call from the Trust telling me the bus was ready. They wanted to know how soon I could collect it. Fortunately, church members had, by then, grasped the vision and saw it as a great short-term solution to our building challenge.’
The bus, which used to be operated by Stagecoach on routes in the east coast of Scotland, is now stationed in the chapel car park. A major refit is under way, with much of the work being carried out by church volunteers.
Pete said: ‘We invited folks to spend a Saturday stripping it out, and we now have specialists working on individual tasks. We are in the process of putting in an electricity supply, but the work is still mostly in a destructive phase.’
The bus is already proving to be a great tool for ministry, with a recent family fun day attracting people from the local community who wanted to have a go at sitting in the driver’s seat and the church made the top floor into a temporary ‘Escape Room’ challenge that proved very popular.
‘And it’s even helped our relationship with our neighbours,” added Pete, “as the bus hides an unattractive area behind some buildings!’
The only downside to the project so far has been the reduction of parking spaces.
‘Our members have also been a little concerned that, as a church, we’re ‘settling’ for the bus rather than finding a longer-term solution to our needs. But, for me, we now have a bus-shaped reminder that our current premises are not suitable for the long-term!’ said Pete.
