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The
area around King's Cross Methodist Church is vibrant, busy, changing.
It has long had a sleazy reputation, for drugs and prostitution.
But more recently a massive redevelopment has begun. King's Cross'
position as a principal transport
hub, with mainline, Thameslink and underground train services will
be enhanced in the next few years when it becomes the London terminus
for Eurostar trains. The Methodist Church is strategically placed
between two side streets directly opposite King's Cross station
in the very heart of this vibrant, ceaselessly moving place. It
comprises three distinct, yet inter-related areas of work in the
one church. Over thirty years ago this large church,
complete
with balcony, was reshaped, and a top floor created which currently
provides student accommodation in community in Methodist Chaplaincy
House. The ground floor now has an attractive suite of rooms, including
a smaller chapel where the English language congregation meets on
a Sunday. It's local mission includes developing relationships with
Camden Town Hall, just along the street, and strong ecumenical partnerships,
including provision of help for street sex workers. A larger chapel
and basement welcomes a much larger Chinese Methodist congregation,
worshipping in Cantonese and Mandarin. his congregation, gathered
from across London and including newly-arrived immigrants, students
and young professionals, is the centre of a Chinese Mission with
congregations planted as far afield as Hastings and Newcastle. One
church with two congregations, sharing oversight and decision-making.
The Chinese Mission runs the Advice Service for immigrants and asylum
seekers, and hosts
a project to enable people to turn away from gambling. All this
work is underpinned by a deep trust in the work of the Spirit of
God and and a focus on the change Jesus can make in the hearts of
men and women - a faith that the church
wishes
to share.
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