DALTON COMMUNITY CHURCH (Methodist/URC)
Dalton Community Church
Market Street
Dalton-in-Furness
LA15 8RQ
The Church has limited parking for those with mobility problems. Free parking is available at the nearby car park in Broughton Road and the Number 6 bus stop is at Tudor Square.
The church has level access for all, a toilet for the disabled and a loop system.
At services a variety of traditional and modern hymns are sung, mostly from the hymn book, Singing the Faith, and we normally use the Good News Bible.
Find Us
Dalton Community Church
Market Street, LA 15 8RQ: From 30.10.22 all services and events will take place here.
Our Heritage
Dalton United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church is the union of four established churches: The Congregational Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Re-formed Association of Churches of Christ and the Congregational Union of Scotland.
In 1972 the Congregational Church in England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England united to become the United Reformed Church, which subsequently united with the Re-formed Association of Churches of Christ in 1981 and the Congregational Union of Scotland in 2000.
In Dalton there were two small United Reformed Churches only about 300 yards apart, one in Market Street and one in Ulverston Road. In 1984 the two churches came together to worship in the Market Street Church.
Dalton Methodist Church
The Methodist Church building in Dalton was opened in 1864. At this time there were 3 strands of Methodism i.e. Wesleyan, Primitive and United. Wellington Street was built as a Wesleyan Chapel. There were also Primitive and United Methodist Chapels in Dalton. The United Methodist premises in Broughton Road ceased to meet in the 1930’s and after a spell as a slipper factory was demolished. The Primitive Methodist property in Cleater Street closed in 1958 and many active members transferred to Wellington Street. By this time there was only one strand of Methodism following the Deed of Union in 1932. The Wellington Street building was extensively modernised in 1997, but when the URC and Methodist congregations in Dalton decided to become a Local Ecumenical Partnership only one building was needed. Following the refurbishment of the URC building in Market Street, the last service at Wellington Street was held on 23 October 2022. This building has now been sold and is being converted into houses and flats.
150 not out!
In March 2019 we celebrated 150 years of worship in the Market Street building. An exhibition of various pictures and artefacts was staged to mark this milestone with more than 70 visitors coming to the event. A celebration service was led by Rev Zena Smith during which soprano Clare Eccles performed a solo from Handel’s Messiah and which was attended by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Dalton.
Our Refurbishment Project – is now finished
Dalton Community Church’s Refurbishment Project
When the Methodist and URC congregations came together, it was agreed that the cost of maintaining 2 ageing buildings would need to be addressed. Both the Methodist and URC premises were in need of refurbishment, and after much prayer, research and thought, it was decided to retain and refurbish the URC building in Market Street. Fundraising began in 2016, and on 30 October 2022 we were able to hold the first service in a transformed environment. Due to costs, we had to sacrifice a separate hall and accept that the church would be only large area in which to hold services and events, but this has been made larger by the removal of the balcony, porch, vestry and baptistry. The fresh paint, clear windows, and new LED lighting system and have made the church a much brighter and welcoming place. To provide all facilities on one level, the floor level in the former hall has been raised, and it now houses a large new kitchen, storeroom, vestry / office and accessible toilets.
We are grateful to the many members and friends who have supported our fundraising efforts and the grant organisations who have provided funding of this project. Our aim was to have a building which would reflect our church members’ determination to offer the best we can to God, and our Open Day in November 2022 attracted many visitors, a further grant and many positive comments from the local community.
During the Spring of 2021 the whole of the roof was replaced with reclaimed Burlington Slate and solar panels built into the back section. Dalton Community Church are grateful to the URC North West Synod who covered the cost of these panels, and a further grant was received from the Baywind Energy Conservation Trust to help towards the cost of new roof insulation
Worship
Sundays
10.30am morning service, with Communion (which includes non-alcoholic wine) once per month
Tuesdays
On the second Tuesday of the month, communion service at 2.30pm (about 30 minutes long)
Prayer
A confidential prayer chain is operated by a small number of members in the church, and a telephone prayer meeting is being set up.
Summer Songs of Praise
Each July we hold an afternoon service outside on the church lawn, often inviting Dalton Town Band to come and play for us. Afternoon tea is served after the service.
Decorating the church
For special services, such as Harvest or Christmas we decorate our lovely large windowsills and windows
Ecumenical services
Dalton Community Church has a good relationship with Dalton St Mary’s Parish Church. Joint services are held during Lent and Easter, at Harvest, on Remembrance Sunday and during the Christmas season.
The Church is a member of Barrow and District Churches Together.
Dalton Civic Services
Dalton Mayors have used our churches for their Civic Services
Social Activities
Cuppa, Chat and Company
We run drop-in sessions from 2.00pm to 3.30pm on Wednesday afternoons during term time. (see noticeboard outside church for dates) This a free get-together for anyone who enjoys socialising, and anyone is welcome to come – on their own or with friends. Refreshments, dominoes and jigsaws are available (no charge), or bring-your-own knitting or crafts.
Social and fundraising events organised by church members
In 2020
In 2021
We didn’t organise many events in 2021 due to pandemic restrictions. However a new roof, including solar panels, was fitted to our Market Street building
In 2022
Organisations use our premises for Saturday coffee mornings and other events
For example, a Craft Fair:
In the Community
Fairtrade
We are a Fairtrade church and support the annual Fairtrade Fortnight through our March Coffee Morning. Often cakes etc are made using Fair Trade ingredients and pieces are given out to people to try.
Teams4U Shoebox Appeal
For a number of years we have supported this appeal – in 2019 we sent 39 boxes (a record for us) to Eastern Europe.
Advent Calendar
Since 2016 we have organised a giant community Advent Calendar in Dalton involving 24 pictures. Each picture has been made by community groups such as Scouting, Guiding, Dalton Town Band, and Coronation House (residential home) and Dalton schools. In 2022 these pictures were kindly displayed at the Reliacare offices on Market Street.
Foodbank
The church supports Barrow Food Bank through individual members donating at local supermarkets and often with collections in church just before the summer holidays, at Harvest and at Christmas time.
During Lent in 2021, church members were challenged to donate specific items to the Food Bank operating from St Mary’s Church, Dalton.
National and Local Events remembered
Commemorations such as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and The Battle of the Somme in 2016. Most recently, in 2020, after the tragic deaths of three people from the same family in a car accident on the outskirts of Dalton, the church invited the people of Dalton to tie ribbons on its railing as a sign of their sympathy and condolence for the family’s loss.
Christmas Tree Festival at Dalton St Mary’s Parish Church
From the beginning of this festival the church has decorated a tree and each year has asked for donations for Furness Homeless Support Group. Pictures show us making decorations for the trees in 2021 (theme, I LOVE BUTTERFLIES) and 2022 (theme: Memories of the 1969 Moon Landing) and the completed trees in situ
Community cooperation with St Mary’s Parish Church
We have co-operated for events such as craft activities at Dalton Carnival, mission based activities such as ‘Moving Mountains’ in 2018, and events such as ‘What does Christmas Mean to you?’, and ‘Grave Matters’. Our Minister and St Mary’s Priest-in-Charge have also jointly presented Christmas and the D-Day 80th Anniversary events at Dalton’s Market Cross.
Working with Dalton Yarn bombers
For Remembrance Time in 2022, the church worked with the yarn bombers to make a poppy display using the church’s railings and lawn to display them. This was followed by knitted and crocheted squares in red, white and blue for King Charles III’s Coronation, and bollard covers for the town at Christmas 2023.
Come and pray for our world
In September 2022 this event was organised by Dalton Community Church, St Mary’s Parish Church and the True Life fellowship. It was a drop-in event using prayer stations to encourage people to pray for various concerns in the world.
Children
Holiday Club and Messy Church
For many years now the church has supported, with our buildings and volunteers, the running of an ecumenical Holiday Club for 5-11 year olds. This took place over a week in the summer plus other afternoon events, often at Easter or Half term. In 2023 it was decided to combine the Holiday Club with the Messy Church sessions run by St Mary’s Parish Church and so “Messy Church Mornings” was born. Sessions run once a week for 4 weeks during the school summer holidays, and one-off sessions in most other school holidays.
Flashbacks… to times with Jesus
This is another event run by an ecumenical team, taking place roughly every two years. Year 4 children from Dalton schools are invited to come to a morning or afternoon session at the Market Street church. They take part in activities, crafts and games which will hopefully allow them to learn more about Jesus.
Safeguarding
Dalton Community Church is committed to the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults and affirms that the needs of children or of people when they are vulnerable and at risk are paramount.
Statement of safeguarding principles
Every person has a value and dignity, which comes directly from the creation of humans in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God’s re-creation of us in Christ. Among other things this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.
Principles
We are committed to:
• the care and nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children, young people and adults
• safeguarding and protecting all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable
• establishing safe, caring communities, which provide a loving environment where there is informed vigilance as to the dangers of abuse.
We will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within the Church, in line with safer recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records disclosures and registration with the relevant vetting and barring schemes.
We will respond without delay to every safeguarding concern, which suggests that a child, young person or adult may have been harmed, working in partnership with the police and local authority in any investigation.
We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care.
We will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust.
Working with the District Safeguarding Officer, we will support risk assessment of those who present a safeguarding risk within a church environment. We will ensure appropriate pastoral care is offered and measures are taken to address identified risks including referral to statutory agencies, suspension and the use of safeguarding contracts.
In all these principles, we will follow legislation, guidance and recognised good practice.