Service Held To Welcome New Vicar To Chiswick
Rev Mike Tufnell and family are helping to bring St Alban's back to life
It was standing room only as over 250 people packed St. Alban's Church in Chiswick during a welcome service for Rev Mike Tufnell and his wife Michelle.
The event was the latest stage in the Back To Life Campaign to re-open the long closed church on Acton Green Common.
The Tufnell family - Pic Ian Wylie
Rev Tufnell told the congregation: “As the doors were opened in this place, as the light has flooded in, so has the sense of vision for this church. It’s bringing this church back to life.”
He and Michelle, a doctor who will be working at Chiswick Business Park, were welcomed by members of the W4 community.
Rev Richard Moy with Rev Tufnell behind him - Pic Ian Wylie
Local MP Angie Bray was among those who helped set up the chairs the day before the service with the building now re-connected to an electricity supply.
The 80-minute service featured classic hymns and contemporary worship led by a lively young band and was followed by a champagne reception.
A prayer meeting is now held at the church from 9:30am to 10:15am every Sunday with full regular services due to resume in the autumn.
Pic - Ian Wylie
Rev Tufnell is a new Associate Vicar at Christ Church, Turnham Green, which has taken a lead role in the back to life campaign, and has arrived to further develop St Alban's Church.
He said: “We are so delighted to be here and looking forward to all that God is going to do in Chiswick. We are delighted to be joining in with the multisite Christ Church W4 under Richard Moy's leadership.”
Christ Church’s Rev Richard Moy said: “We are thrilled to be able to invite Mike and Michelle to be part of our team here at Christ Church as we look to bring St Alban's back to life.
“Services will begin there in the autumn and we have an exciting announcement to make about a professional theatre production in St Alban's also in the autumn. Watch this space.”
Pic - Ian Wylie
You may like to check out the video made by local company Harvey House Films for the welcome service.
June 9, 2014