Yes, we are now officially a church!
Oh. You thought we already were?
Well, I guess that’s the thorny question of ‘when is church not a church?’ Or, more officially, when is a church building recognised as a church building?
Because, let’s face it, the church is not actually a building. It’s the people.
Under the provisions of the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855, a place of meeting for religious worship may, if the congregation wish, be so certified to the Registrar General. The certification is arranged by applying to the Superintendent Registrar in the district where the building is situated. Many of you may remember Dave talking about this a few weeks ago and members signing the official form which told the Superintendent Registrar that we did, indeed, so wish to be certified.
The official letter has now been received saying that the building is registered as a place of worship and has also been registered as a place where the solemnisation of weddings can be held.
So, in the eyes of the law, we are legally a church and people can legally get married in the building.
Some people may find all the legal jargon confusing. It’s perhaps good, therefore, to fix our eyes more on how God describes His people than on the actual buildings we use:
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)
“Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.” (Hebrews 3:6)