A new era for Crosby's Crossroads Centre...
Crosby's much-loved Crossroads Centre is to undergo a rebirth, which will see the creation of an exciting new purpose-built centre fit for the 21st Century.
Crossroads has been a familiar and welcoming landmark in Crosby Village for many years ... a visible commitment of local churches and people working together.
But now the centre has reached a 'crossroads' itself. A new building is needed to support the work of Churches Together in Great Crosby, helping to play a key role in the life of the community.
BUT TO ACHIEVE THIS VISION FOR THE FUTURE, WE NEED YOUR HELP...
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CROSSROADS OLD AND NEW The success of Crossroads as a cafe and drop-in centre, where for many years people of all ages have enjoyed a warm welcome and good food at reasonable cost, is to be built upon. An ambitious project to provide a new purpose-built centre, offering better facilities and a broader range of services for local people within a caring setting, is about to take shape. Supported by a dedicated team of volunteers from local churches, the manageress and trustees, a fund-raising and steering committee is ensuring that Crossroads will live on and continue to thrive well into this new century. But this can only be done by continuing to work together, for the good of the community. |
A vision for the future...
We
believe that every member of all the churches involved in this project, as well as each and every person within the community as a whole, has
a shared stake in the foundation of a new Crossroads Centre.
By building a new and up-to-date Crossroads near to the existing one, we will be able to renew our efforts in focussing on the community and family life, for years to come.
What YOU can do...
Crossroads was established through local people working together to help others. This new building project has already had a great deal of hard work and commitment put into it.
It has also been able to secure substantial funds to ensure the dream becomes a reality, which is about to take shape in the form of bricks and mortar. But your financial support - no matter how small - is now needed.
How you can help
Your prayers and assistance could make all the difference...
We welcome all contributions which will help bring about a new Crossroads.
You can make a contribution, simply and easily, through the response form.
Your gift could also help those less fortunate at our sister centre, Crossroads Hoima, in Uganda.
For those who would like to get more involved, perhaps through fund-raising events or in other ways, please get in touch with one of the church
contacts, listed below.
From
little acorns
Some 16 years ago the six churches of Great Crosby formed an alliance to benefit the whole community, particularly those who are lonely or experiencing difficulty.
This bond united St Luke's and All Saint's Anglican churches with St Helen's and SS Peter and Paul's Catholic churches, along with Liverpool Road and Moor Lane Methodist churches.
They formed The Great Crosby Group of Churches Charitable Trust, which established the Crossroads cafe, situated at the main Liverpool Road junction at Crosby Village traffic lights.
Since then a management committee has successfully run Crossroads cafe, staffed by paid and volunteer helpers.
TIME FOR A NEW CROSBY BUILDING
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| Representatives of all denominations welcome
the plans for the new Crossroads Centre |
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Picture courtesy of Crosby Herald
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Looking back at its success and considering what lies ahead, the centre's trustees decided a bold new plan was needed to ensure Crossroads' future.
In order to continue and thrive, the trustees believe Crossroads must have its successful self-supporting cafe upgraded to provide greater space, modern furnishings and equipment. After carefully considering all the cost implications, it was clear it would be too expensive to purchase, upgrade and alter the existing Crossroad building to required modern standards.
A new and purpose-built Crossroads was the only answer.
Better for all...
A new building will provide better facilities for all users. The creation of a specially designed centre instead of converting an existing structure will ensure that user-friendly features can be built-in from the start. There will also be easier access for the disabled. Its atmosphere will welcome both existing and new visitors alike to share the Crossroads experience.
Reaching out to the community
Crossroads
is a well-known meeting place for people of all ages, with its doors open to everyone. It offers reasonably priced food and refreshments and
not surprisingly is popular with lots of retired people in particular. This new building could be just the opportunity needed to reach out to
more people.
The trustees want to extend its outreach as a safe, non-alcoholic meeting place, for young people especially. Mums, dads, carers and toddlers, would be welcomed with the advent of a play area.
It will also be a convenient 'drop-in' for parents and children after school. Its modern accommodation would be ideal for organizations seeking a convenient meeting place.
...AND CROSSROADS INTERNATIONAL
The Christian Churches of Hoima, in Uganda, have come together to work for the good of all their people, just like we have done in Crosby.
Their need is great, and it is much in evidence.
Having seen our Crossroads in Crosby, the Anglican Bishop in Uganda has encouraged his brethren in all the different denominations to work towards setting up a Crossroads in Hoima, which is 150 miles from the capital Kampala.
They have found an ideal site in the middle of the town, where it is hoped to construct Crossroads Hoima, with similar services to our Crossroads.
Pictures and text courtesy of Graham Hignett at Alexander PR &
Communications, Crosby (tel: 0777 969 3397)
Go to St Luke's homepage www.stlukecrosby.org.uk
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September 2002