Norfolk church celebrates Christmas in theatre
 Cliff Park Community Church in Great Yarmouth is celebrating Christmas by heading off to the theatre and is also preparing to mark its tenth anniversary.
Instead of the carols by candlelight the church has held at its home, Cliff Park Junior School in recent years, they are taking over Gorleston Pavilion Theatre instead for “Carols and Coffee” on the morning of Sunday December 20.
The church is led by former London advertising agency creative director Mike Simm who left that high-flying career to become an Anglican minister after he became a Christian thanks to an Alpha course. But old habits die hard and Mike’s come up with a cheeky advertising campaign for the Christmas service : “This Christmas, would you rather go to the theatre, or a church....we thought so”
“The Pavilion has such a lovely atmosphere, and people like going there” said Rev Simm “With the chairs and tables its ideal for a relaxed cafe style service”. People will be encouraged to enjoy coffee and mince pies during the service, which will include puppets. Kevin Lynch and Stuart Durrant, who run the theatre, have welcomed the return of the church – provided they clean up any crumbs from the carpet before the afternoon matinee of the pantomime “Dick Whittington”. Anyone is welcome at 10.30 a.m. and there’s no admission charge !
It follows the success of using the theatre at Easter – although this wasn’t planned. The church intended to hold an open-air service on the new bandstand opposite the Pavilion but, just as everything was set up, heavy rain set in and they transferred rapidly to the theatre instead.
A decade ago Cliff Park was headlined as “a new church for a new millennium”. It was set up by St Andrew’s Parish Church and Gorleston Baptist and opened, in a blaze of publicity, at the beginning of December 1999. Now its preparing to celebrate its 10th birthday with a buffet party on Saturday December 5 followed by a service on Sunday 6.
Former minister the Rev Paddy McGlinchey is returning from Ireland for the weekend and will speak on Sunday. Also coming back will be the Baptist minister, the Rev Richard Hughes who will speak on Saturday evening. The junior section of the award-winning Great Yarmouth Brass Band will also perform on Saturday evening, ensuring that the singing of “Happy Birthday” is memorable !
The church has continued to grow and offers a lively crèche, kids church and a group for younger teens.
More details from Mike Simm on 01493-667914 or the church website www.cpcc.org.uk | 