CHURCH members are holding a May fayre to raise funds for building alterations worth £120,000 to expand their outreach projects.

The fayre will be held in Gravesend Methodist Church in Milton Road on May 14 from 10am until 4.30pm.

MP for Gravesham Adam Holloway will open the event, which will see 24 stalls selling anything from cakes and plants to arts and crafts.

Money raised will go towards the church’s 21st Century Building Project to make alterations to the front and back of the building.

This will include the erection of a small porch along the front of the church to be used as a base for the church’s street pastor project.

While at the rear of the church, a reception area will be built to allow more room for the church’s youth groups and outreach work.

Since the beginning of last year, the 100-strong congregation has raised £30,000 from various fundraising events, including auctions and quiz evenings.

But they still need another £90,000 for the project to go ahead.

Church member Fred Hollick of The Avenue, Gravesend, is helping co ordinate the project.

The 65-year-old said: “People don’t regularly cross the threshold of a church.

“They expect to walk into somewhere comfortable and modern, but this church was built over 100 years ago.

“It needs more and more maintenance as the years go on.

“We want to provide facilities for activities that will attract people in a more up to date fashion.”

Church activities

The church is used for a variety of activities, including mums and toddler groups, youth clubs and street pastoring.

Church members also offer the building as a venue for Oasis Counselling Service and for volunteers of a migrant support chat line.

And the Gravesend branch of national charity, Mind, uses the church as a base to offer support for people with mental health difficulties.

MP for Gravesham Adam Holloway supports the church’s 21st Century Building Project.

He said: “It a very dynamic and energetic church, which I’ve been really impressed with.

“Some churches are inward looking but they are out there in the community, working tirelessly.

“They are just bloody good.”

Street pastors

Dave Young, 65, has been a street pastor since September 2009 for the church, while his wife, Margaret, 64, is on the prayer team.

Mr Young, of Poplar Walk, Meopham, goes out on the streets of Gravesend between 10pm and 4am on Friday and Saturday nights.

The grandfather-of-four said: “It’s a chance for Christian volunteers to interface with the community on the streets of Gravesend.

“It’s a quiet, well behaved town so there are never any major issues, but it’s a chance to discuss our faith with people and occasionally help them.

“The prayer team can then pray into their situations.

”The 21st Century Building Project is vital for us to continue our work effectively.”

Mr Young says he carries a bag of equipment on the street with him, including flip flops.

He said: “Sometimes girls come out of clubs and their feet hurt, so rather then wear their shoes, they go bare foot.

“We give them flip flops so they don’t have to.”