Belford Ferguson Hall

Become a Ferguson Hall Friend: time, skills, ideas, or money.

The Ferguson Hall on Nursery Lane was built by the Presbyterian Church over a century ago and has served the village community ever since as a centre of social activities. Although it is owned, managed and paid for by Erskine United Reformed Church (formerly the Presbyterian Church) activities within the hall are not confined to church functions, and the church only uses the hall for a maximum of one day per month; for the rest of the time it is a community resource used either for a modest fee or even free as a gift to charities. It is booked most evenings during term time.

The church itself was formed in 1776, and is part of the heritage of Belford village, lying within the conservation area. The church clock, set into the balcony, was made in Belford by Thomas Tait the clockmaker in 1812, and celebrates its second working century this year. The Manse next-door is one of the few buildings in the village to have retained its original purpose since 1776, and is a grade II listed building.

All churches have to cope with financial hardship in these times of stringent economy, but our church will not close, and has an action plan to put right its finances. The numbers attending church remain steady, and this year we had record congregations at Christmas and Easter. We continue to have activities for children and teenagers, as well as the Women’s Guild, and we show films, and hold study and discussion groups. Our Christmas Candle Festival 2011 was a great success.

Half the present church expenditure (£8000) is spent on people - caring for people, training and nurturing. Of the expenditure on buildings, two thirds is spent on the Ferguson Hall (£5230) and the remaining third (£2500) upon the church itself, the worship area next door to the Hall. Administration, stationary, children’s activities etc. cost a few hundred pounds. As a small church with 50 adults attending, we have been hit by rising fuel costs, insurance, and building repairs. We have a faithful core group who volunteer to steward, repair and manage the church and hall.

The congregation is responsible for paying for ministers, lay preachers, teachers and training and maintaining our building as a place of worship. There are no government grants, or wider church resources to lean on. Although we are partly subsidised by larger suburban churches, local people in and around Belford pay for the rest. It is the responsibility of those of us who attend weekly, or at Christmas and Easter, or for weddings, baptisms and funerals to pay for the Church. We do not expect other people to help it is for the congregation to give as an expression of their faith in thankfulness. We, the church members, have committed ourselves to doubling our giving to make it possible for the church itself to continue.

We have been looking at our options. Give or take £500 or so, it will cost the same to worship in another building if we rent a school hall, community club or sister church such as St Mary’s, rather than using our own dedicated building, but, if we wish keep the Ferguson Hall running as a community resource, we need to generate £3000 per year to keep it open. In 2010 The Ferguson Hall cost £5231.48 including energy, insurance, licenses, cleaning and repairs. The subsidy paid by the church to make the Ferguson Hall available to the village was £2963.58 after having reckoned in the income from lettings of the Hall as £1667.90 and the Church’s use of the Hall as 12 x £50 per day (£600). We are seeking to increase our lettings, apply for grant aid, and, if the village is willing, asking for gifts from groups and individuals.

We are hosting a Ferguson Hall Users Meeting February 22nd 2012, 7pm in the Hall. We invite all community user groups, the Parish Council, the Development Trust, sister churches, Bell View and others to come and share ideas. We hope to have more good news of the progress we are making to save the Ferguson Hall for the future. To learn more about the church and Hall visit www.northernbreeze.org or Tel Rev David Herbert 01666219584. 5 Nursery Lane, Belford.

If you think you are in a position to help please hand in the slip below to Mrs A Thomson, 3 Nursery Lane Belford
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Are you a member of a group that could raise money for The Ferguson Hall? Yes/No

Would you like to join Friends of the Ferguson Hall? Life Membership £100 Yes / No
£20 per annum Yes/No

Could you offer your time to help to maintain the Hall? Yes/No

Name:…………………………………………….. Address:………………………………………………………………………
I confirm I am a UK tax payer and wish for Gift Aid to be claimed on my donation to Erskine URC [ ] please tick.
Cheques made payable to Erskine United Reformed church to Judith Burn, Fenham le Moor Farm, Belford.
Direct payments to Erskine URC: Sort Code 205817 Account No 80161381 Barclays Bank PO Box 36 Morpeth NE613YY