Introducing Broxbourne United Reformed Church
Please see the foot of this article for the North Lea Valley Area of Shared Ministry Child Protection Policy and Vulnerable Adults Policy
Our two friendly local denominations cooperate happily, having occasional joint services.
The Christian churches in England share very much the same basic ideals. Looking around, your choice is more in the way they are governed. I give you three options:
a) The Roman Catholic church under rule of the Pope in Rome, through the Archbishop of Westminster down to local Priests.
b) The Church of England under the protection of our Monarch and led by the Archbishop of Canterbury with area Bishops, local Vicars, Curates, and having an annual gathering for important decisions, the Synod.
and c) the Free Churches, for instance the Baptists, Methodists and United Reformed. These generally operate more democratically. The clergy, who may be men or women, are called Ministers.
The word Reformed comes from the days when there were protests at the ways of the church of Rome at that time, hence ‘Protestants’. They decided not to conform, hence ‘Nonconformists’, and they re-formed their ways of worship, hence the ‘Reformed’ church.
A particular plank of the Protestant platform is that we have direct access to God. There is no need for a priest to mediate between God and Mankind. This is called ‘The Priesthood of All Believers’.
In parallel, The Bible, with understanding, is central to belief and conduct. To symbolise this in the URC the bible is ceremoniously carried in by an Elder and placed centrally to signal the start of each service of worship. Thereupon they read an appropriate verse or two from it as the Call To Worship.
The United Reformed Church, (not the United Reform Church!) you will be astonished to learn, is the result of churches of the Reformed tradition which united.
The Congregational Church and the Presbyterian Church of England were two Free Churches with similar democratic methods and parallel beliefs, so in an effort to gather churches into one they united in 1972, were soon joined also by the smaller Reformed Churches of Christ, and, more recently, by the Congregational Church of Scotland. Not Bad!
Blending the ways of these traditions, decisions involving each premises and its conduct are made by all the church members at the important Church Meeting.
Certain are set apart, with the Minister, as Elders to have spiritual care of their groups of members and also to conduct the regular business. They meet in the Elders Meeting.
Representatives from Elders Meetings attend an area Synod, and on to the, now bi-annual, General Assembly, led by two Moderators (one Minister and one lay person) chosen for each two years.
But to unite doesn’t immediately produce standardisation. As with any wide-spread organisation, there is always a certain amount of local variation between premises due to the folk involved.
Before the Union, Broxbourne was a Congregational church, and as these were individually self supporting there was a tendency towards a family atmosphere in the conduct of the church which it will be found still lingers here.
The Presbyterian denomination, having Scottish links, was more restrained in conduct, and no doubt you will still find this amongst elderly members and Ministers who grew up in premises elsewhere which were Presbyterian in origin.
After all, according to the records it took Moses the regulation 40 years in the Wilderness to get the Israelites to overcome being slaves in Egypt. It put years on him. Having seen pictures of the current Wilderness I can understand why they were not best pleased. Ten minutes would be enough for me, five even better.
Our new building at Broxbourne was opened in April 1969, shortly before the Union, having moved from the previous Congregational church building, dated 1846, shown, in the middle of Hoddesdon to allow entry there through to a new shopping precinct (since demolished).
Our architect introduced the idea of having the hall downstairs and the sanctuary above in the tent-shaped roof. Interestingly, the sloping walls avoid any echo, which is great for the Hoddesdon Music Club who organise concerts by top-flight classical musicians.
Originally access to the upper floor was by an outside ramp but in time this was considered too steep. Problem: How to incorporate a lift into this novel-shaped construction? 
Answer: Construct the lift outside on the garden and then build a new frontage around it!
And that is what you see now.
In fact it brought with it the addition of a couple of much-used meeting rooms upstairs with their own facilities. Many societies hire all our halls, from bird watchers to weight watchers. There are birthday parties, but, from experience, no stag nights! We regret that we are unable to take Sunday bookings, because of use by the Church.
Looking inside upstairs, above the projection screen in the sanctuary is our particular feature of interest , the Cross of Crosses, designed uniquely for this church by a talented local artist.
More recently, for the extension, a nearby glass-worker donated engravings of this logo on the new glass front doors.
To visit, and perhaps settle in a particular local church there is a degree of acquired taste needed. For any first experience it always helps to know what to expect.
After being welcomed by the welcomers, the first thing you will see on entering before 10.30 am on a Sunday is the projection screen which, apart from pictures, shows the words of the hymns and notes during the sermon. At the entrance, in addition to receiving a bible with two book-marks and an Order of Service, hymn books are offered ‘If You Can’t Read The Screen’. Apart from other benefits of PowerPoint to help with organising the Service, the ‘heads up’ posture benefits the singing.
On arrival in good time, (Offertory basket at the entrance) don’t aim to sit in the back rows in case the Regulars crowd you out. Be more adventurous; move forward. After an arrival moment of prayer, look in the Order of Service for the page numbers of the bible readings and insert the book-marks for reference when required later.
You may have to close your ears to chatter during the nominal ‘Quiet Contemplation’. Likewise close your eyes to fiddling with microphone switches and laptops. Keep thinking ‘Reverence’.
Stand when the Minister enters.
At least one hymn or song, probably with a tune not designed for the organ, may be sung to a Band consisting of such musicians as are present.
Thereafter, as explained elsewhere, some services are ‘Traditional’ with a sermon, possibly with monthly Communion, some are lighter for ‘All Ages’.
Communion, or Holy Communion to be more specific, is nothing to be scared of. (That’s bad grammar).
Followers of Jesus the Christ ( ’Jesus’ was a common name) share together a token meal of bread and wine, remembering that at the Last Supper Jesus related these to His body and blood. He was about to allow these to be shed by crucifixion as a sacrifice for all the sins of his followers, once and for ever.
In the URC, at larger gatherings, the Elders serve small pieces of bread on plates to the congregation in their seats.
In our case, all wait until all are served and then eat together.
Next, similarly with a mini glass of non-alcoholic (!) wine.
If this idea doesn’t suit you, just let them pass. No Problem.
After Communion there is a gratitude Offertory at the door for a chosen Good Cause, currently food for the food bank or, of course a cash alternative.
After every Sunday morning Service, be bold enough to go into the hall downstairs and look around for a friendly chat over a cup of something.
To negotiate the rest of the week you will need an interpretation of our local obfuscations (meaning titles which are not directly explanatory), which have been acquired gradually. The names may be unusual but the people are not.
Kings Kids: Children at Sunday Service.
Hitchhikers: Ages 11 to 18, on Sunday evenings.
COMET: Come On Mondays, Enjoy Togetherness.
After Eights: Ladies monthly evening meeting,
Touching Base: Midweek brief morning Service.
Oasis: The Quiet Room, upstairs.
ETF: Exploring The Faith
Regent Regale: Retired Gents Luncheon.
CTH: Churches Together in Hoddesdon, Broxbourne, and Wormley.
Now, as they say on the TV programme for house-hunters, ‘Off you go and have a good look around. Take your time and I’ll see you again later’ .
Gordon.
North Lea Valley Group Pastorate
Child Protection Policy
The North Lea Valley Group Pastorate (‘Pastorate’) believes that it is always unacceptable for a child or young person to experience abuse of any kind and recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people by a commitment to practice which protects them.
Definition of ‘Child’
A child is recognised as a person who has not attained the age of 18 years.
We recognise that:
* the welfare of the child/young person is paramount
* all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
* working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and their agencies, is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
The purpose of the policy:
* To provide protection for the children and young people who attend The North Lea Valley Group Pastorate worship or activities, or receive services from the Area, including the children of adult members, congregation or visitors.
* To provide staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a child or young person may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm.
This policy applies to everyone working in or on behalf of the Pastorate.
The Pastorate will seek to safeguard children and young people by:
* valuing them, listening to and respecting them
* adopting child protection guidelines through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
* recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
* sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents, staff and volunteers
* sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately
* providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training.
* The sharing of safeguarding takes precedence over General Data Protection Regulation.
We are also committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
Reviewed July 2018
Next Review July 2019
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North Lea Valley Group Pastorate
North Lea Valley Group Pastorate
Vulnerable Adults Policy
The North Lea Valley Group Pastorate (‘Pastorate’) believes that it is always unacceptable for any adult to experience abuse of any kind and recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all individuals by a commitment to practice which protects those individuals who are vulnerable.
Definition of Vulnerable Adult
An adult (a person aged 18 or over) is classed as vulnerable when they are receiving one or more of the following:
* Health care
* Relevant personal care
* Social care work
* Assistance in relation to general household matters by reason of age, illness or disability
* Relevant assistance in the conduct of their own affairs
* Assistance in mobility and travel due to age, illness or disability.
We recognise that:
* the welfare of the vulnerable adult is paramount
* all individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
* working in partnership with vulnerable adults, their families, carers and agencies is essential in promoting an individual’s welfare.
The purpose of the policy:
* To provide protection for vulnerable adults who attend The North Lea Valley Group Pastorate worship or activities, or receive services from the Pastorate, including members, congregation or visitors.
* To provide staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect an individual may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm.
This policy applies to everyone working in or on behalf of the Pastorate.
We will seek to safeguard vulnerable adults by:
* valuing them, listening to and respecting them
* adopting vulnerable adult guidelines through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
* recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
* sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with individuals, families, staff and volunteers
* sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving individuals, families and carers appropriately
* providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training.
* The sharing of safeguarding takes precedence over General Data Protection Regulation.
We are also committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually. Revised July 2018
Reviewed July 2018
Next Review July 2019
Page 1 of 1