Stones Methodist Church, Ripponden, committed to undertaking a major building and development project in 2022, which was completed in 2024. Our project had four key aims:

1. Make the building watertight
   
   
2. Reduce our carbon footprint
   
   
3. Reorder the worship space to provide flexibility and add a fully equipped kitchen 
   
   
4. Open up the developed space to the community through Stones-led activities and lettings to other community groups.

We are proud to say that our project was delivered, on time and on budget, with grateful thanks to the dedicated church project team who put in hours of work to ensure its success, our builder and sub-contractors and to all those organisations, Trusts and Foundations – including the Congregational and General Trust – who awarded grants to enable the project to be completed.

Throughout the project the Stones project team ensured “we took people with us” – seeking the views of the Stones congregation on furniture for the developing space, and hosting open mornings for the community to drop in and share their thoughts of what is needed in our area.

The Stones Methodist Church building has been transformed—made watertight, warm, greener in energy use, more secure, and flexible in layout. These changes ensure our church is fit for purpose for many generations to come.

Dave Hill Project Manager at Stones said “Stones Methodist Church really needed investment to secure its future and Congregational and General Trust heard our story and backed us by providing a grant. I’ve learnt that raising funds is like a snowball, it starts small then gains momentum, giving other funders the confidence to join the cause. We are so grateful that the Congregational and General Trust saw our vision and enabled the transformation of the building at Stones Methodist Church.”

The completion of the works has revitalised our building, Stones Methodist Church is now a thriving hub of activity, with over 300 visitors per week attending a range of community events including a community café, keep fit classes, guitar group, craft groups, lunch club, regular quiz nights, book club and more recently it has become a venue for a group of locals to meet for a regular ‘soundbath’. A singing group for adults is planned for Autumn 2025, with a children’s group to follow.

Our church has developed a strong link with local GP practice and provide posters and fliers on a quarterly basis to the Social Prescribing Link Worker, whose role is to “prescribe” activities, events etc to those who are lonely, isolated, and have health needs which will be helped by increased social interaction. 

In addition, the pre-school and dance groups who have been part of Stones for many years, have been able to extend their hours, welcoming more young people and their families into the building, and Church activities such as prayer meetings can be held in the church building, not in people’s homes.

We have begun to see strong friendships being formed and to welcome people to a range of activities – not just as participants but as helpers at lunch clubs, Get Togethers and coffee mornings, and providers of amazing cakes. Our community is building, with Stones Church at its heart.

More information about Stones Methodist Church can be found on the website at www.stonesmethodistchurch.org.uk