Our vision at Hope Church is to see more people, more like Jesus! Since its beginnings back in the 1930’s, this has been at the heart of the story of the church. Through the years, God has stirred us to re-imagine what this might look like. In 2016 Dawlish Christian Fellowship began a new journey to create a space for the church and wider community to gather, with a new vision for how we can bring God’s love to those around us. Hope Centre, Hope Church and Hope Café are the result.
Here is our journey so far…
The building of Hope Centre begins We hired out Dawlish College on a Sunday morning. We continued our lifegroups, schools’ work and youth groups until…. Covid. Our church services moved online, and we became active in supporting the community in partnership with other local agencies.
2020
Hope is Rising!
The panoramic photo of the Hope Centre’s foundations was taken on April 3rd 2020
The building of Hope Centre begins We hired out Dawlish College on a Sunday morning. We continued our lifegroups, schools’ work and youth groups until…. Covid. Our church services moved online, and we became active in supporting the community in partnership with other local agencies.
The ‘Old Primary School’ building was sold and land purchased for a new building as the new vision was born. We contined to meet as Dawlish Christian Fellowship, worshipping on a Sunday morning at St. Agatha’s RC Church. Our office moved to the Black Swan Business Park. (That’s where the time lapse camera was set up). This was a huge leap of faith for us, but we knew that God was with us.
2016
The call to build
In the picture, James is painting live during one of Mark’s preaches (in St. Agatha’s RC Church).
The ‘Old Primary School’ building was sold and land purchased for a new building as the new vision was born. We contined to meet as Dawlish Christian Fellowship, worshipping on a Sunday morning at St. Agatha’s RC Church. Our office moved to the Black Swan Business Park. (That’s where the time lapse camera was set up). This was a huge leap of faith for us, but we knew that God was with us.
We had lots of social events including games nights, lunches, walks, film clubs and our holiday clubs.
Games nights!
A games night at the ‘Old School’ building in 2017
We had lots of social events including games nights, lunches, walks, film clubs and our holiday clubs.
We were well known for our holiday clubs. There were different themes each year, but there were common threads; we would dressed up, a leader would always get gunged and, most importantly, we always taught the children about Jesus. We had lots of fun.
Holiday Clubs
Messy Fun
We were well known for our holiday clubs. There were different themes each year, but there were common threads; we would dressed up, a leader would always get gunged and, most importantly, we always taught the children about Jesus. We had lots of fun.
We celebrated the Queen’s diamond jubilee in June 2012 with a street party. There were activities inside, and a tea party in our car park. We invited all our neighbours.
Celebrating with the community
June 2012
We celebrated the Queen’s diamond jubilee in June 2012 with a street party. There were activities inside, and a tea party in our car park. We invited all our neighbours.
The old Primary School was bought and redeveloped as a church. By this point, for the first time, we had a full time paid worker. We were renamed, ‘Dawlish Christian Fellowship’.
1990’s
The Old School building.
The old Primary School was bought and redeveloped as a church. By this point, for the first time, we had a full time paid worker. We were renamed, ‘Dawlish Christian Fellowship’.
The first building was bought for £2,350 (Central Hall) as the church grew There was a lively Sunday school with Christmas parties, summer outings and Bible classes . There were ‘Squashes’, where people would ‘squash’ into the living rooms of one of the Church members, and Saturday evening young peoples’ ralleys.
1947 (and the 1940’s)
On the move!
The first building was bought for £2,350 (Central Hall) as the church grew There was a lively Sunday school with Christmas parties, summer outings and Bible classes . There were ‘Squashes’, where people would ‘squash’ into the living rooms of one of the Church members, and Saturday evening young peoples’ ralleys.
The Fellowship began to meet in a small room in Regent St, Dawlish. The Partridge family were evacuated from their home. They moved to Dawlish and became active members of the Fellowship. (The Partridge Family are still members of Hope Church today!)
1939 – 1945
During the War…
The Fellowship began to meet in a small room in Regent St, Dawlish. The Partridge family were evacuated from their home. They moved to Dawlish and became active members of the Fellowship. (The Partridge Family are still members of Hope Church today!)
First meetings started with a group of Open Brethren Christians. Mr and Mrs Sercombe, from Aller Farm, hired the Shaftesbury Hall (now called the Shaftesbury Theatre) for their first meetings
1930s
A first conviction from The Lord!
First meetings started with a group of Open Brethren Christians. Mr and Mrs Sercombe, from Aller Farm, hired the Shaftesbury Hall (now called the Shaftesbury Theatre) for their first meetings
Interesting in local history?!
This was just a snapshot of our history. If you want to read about the beginning of our journey in more detail, here’s a PDF of our story from the 1930s-1970s in much more detail:
