CRE News

ByDave Hall

Six steps to a safer exhibition

The organisers of the upcoming CRE National 2021 have spent several months working on the safety of visitors in light of Covid-19. 

‘While we can’t wait to get back to meeting in person, we are aware the virus is still with us and people will, rightly, want assurances of their safety,’ said event director Brett Pitchfork.

Six measures already taken include: 

  • An exhibition spread over two floors to allow wider aisles for social distancing
  • No carpets in the main halls because vinyl floors can be cleaned more easily
  • Hand sanitisers placed at strategic points plus dispensers on each stand
  • Mask-wearing recommended but not demanded of all attendees
  • An air-circulation system at maximum, ensuring 100% fresh air from outside pumped into the halls throughout each day
  • All venue catering cash-free (card and contactless transactions only)

The government has not required exhibition venues to introduce an NHS Covid pass scheme so this will not be implemented at CRE National 2021.

‘We know our visitors well and they will be conscious of a shared responsibility to ensure each other’s safety,’ said Brett. ‘We expect them to respond positively to these measures.’

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for the CRE National 2021 handbook

Your new 64-page products and services guide to CRE National 2021. Nothing beats reading it!

ByDave Hall

Why freeze when you have wi-fi?

With an impressive track record heating imposing Victorian structures and small country churches, a family-run business is set to make its debut at CRE National 2021.

Druggitt and Harding have taken over long-established church heating specialist Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical. Warren Taylor, the company’s managing director, is now looking forward to his first visit to CRE – and bringing the latest technology to churches large and small.

Warren Taylor
Warren Taylor, the new new managing director of Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical Heating

‘It is going to be good to see what happens and how well we are received,’ he said. 

Warren has worked for Druggitt and Harding since joining as a third-year apprentice.

‘I followed my father into the business and the same company,’ he said. ‘Druggitt and Harding is a nationwide company dedicated to the design and installation of heating, electrical and lighting systems and building works in churches and historic buildings, so I come with a wealth of knowledge in the commercial plumbing and heating sector in designing, building and delivering projects.’

The company will still trade under Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical.

‘We bring expertise in adapting to modern technologies,’ said Warren. ‘When it comes to heating and lighting systems, we can install something entirely new or adapt an existing one.’

The product he is finding most popular is a control system that enables the heating to be operated anywhere with a wi-fi signal – useful in churches where someone can turn the heating on and off and adjust the heating levels remotely.

‘It is an intelligent controller, meaning it could also save on your energy bills,’ he added. 

‘We can also design and install new lighting which will give the correct lux levels and energy saving LED lighting which can offer savings on energy costs. Decarbonising heat is vital to meet net-zero emissions, so we offer help and advice on any “green” options available today.’

Because Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical is now part of a bigger group, the company can offer other services, from building works to the installation of new toilet systems. 

Christopher Dunphy will also be at CRE National 2021, with ChurchEcoMiser – a new, all-electric heating system designed for smaller churches.

• Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical Heating are on stand J4 and ChurchEcoMiser are on stand J1 at CRE National 2021

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for the CRE National 2021 handbook

Your new 64-page products and services guide to CRE National 2021. Nothing beats reading it!

ByCRE

Streaming with laughter: vote for your favourite online church service moment of mayhem

Thousands of churches, often heroically, continued their ministry of worship and preaching during lockdown – by taking their services online.

In a matter of months, new skills were learned, sometimes under extreme pressure. One year on, the idea of local churches live streaming their activities on a permanent basis is here to stay. But where to from here? CRE National 2021 will offer visitors the opportunity to hear and learn from a range of experts who spend their professional lives helping people buy the right technology and develop the skills required. Click here to see the exhibition seminar programme.

Of course, as is the case with any live event, things have sometimes gone hilariously wrong. To celebrate these moments CRE teamed up with online comedy magazine Ship of Fools in a search for the funniest online church gaffes. The four finalists are below.

Scroll down to enjoy these moments of unintended comedy and vote for your favourite in our online Streaming with Laughter poll. The results will be published before CRE National 2021 – where you can find out how to avoid similar calamities!

See the clips!

Vicar on fire – Revd Stephen Beach, Vicar of St Budeaux in Plymouth gets into a spot of bother during an online worship experience.

Cat and cassock – The Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, the Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, discovers his inner cat during a Bible reading.

Drummer v foliage – The worship drummer of First Church of the Nazarene in Marietta, Georgia, does spiritual warfare with errant foliage.

Blues Brothers worship – Revd Vaughan Roberts leads livestream worship at St Mary’s in Warwick with the comedy filters turned on.

Vote here!

Vote for the funniest online church fail below. Click on the image of your choice, and then click the Vote button. Thanks for taking part!

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for the CRE National 2021 handbook

Your new 64-page products and services guide to CRE National 2021. Nothing beats reading it!

ByDave Hall

Millmead refurnishing: the divine is in the detail

The opinions of an ancient Greek philosopher have been part of the thinking behind the refurnishing of a church in the 21st century. 

In Pythagoras’ view the number three was perfect – the number of harmonies, wisdom and understanding. It was the number of the divine.

The newly-renovated Millmead, home of Guildford Baptist Church, had been transformed by Re-Format Architects. ICS Furniture were asked to provide the new seating, with a brief to design, manufacture and install not one, but three styles of seating – suitable for a number of different uses.

Millmead, home of Guildford Baptist Church

‘The regeneration of the 500-seat auditorium, coupled with the need for an inclusive worship and community space, led to a full seating fitout of benches, flip seating in walkway and aisle areas along with stackable chairs to the front of the auditorium, providing the freedom to increase capacity when required,’ explained Gavin Duignan, managing director of ICS.

‘The stackable chairs and their trolley system allowed for neat and easy storage.

‘All items were manufactured in ash. The upholstery fabric with its deep, soft chenille quality also incorporates Aquaclean technology allowing for easy maintenance into the future.  

‘There was careful consideration of the design, protypes, fabric choices and timber by the passionate team at the church. The dedication by all involved, even during the first lockdown, never waned. We were delighted to have worked with the committee at Guildford Baptist Church.’

Duncan Stonehouse, the church’s operations manager, said: ‘It was a very innovative way of providing seating in the most convenient way. We were delighted with the result.’

ICS Church Furnishers look forward to welcoming visitors to their stand at CRE National 2021 – to talk over their winning trinity: design, manufacture and installation, creating the ‘perfect harmony’ for church seating projects.

• ICS Church Furnishers are on stand G6 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for the CRE National 2021 handbook

Your new 64-page products and services guide to CRE National 2021. Nothing beats reading it!

ByDave Hall

Fresh option for communion beyond Covid

A Liverpool company is helping churches administer communion in a way that helps prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The elements are delivered in a small pre-filled communion cup containing a double seal. Peeling off the first seal reveals an altar wafer. A second seal reveals non-alcoholic grape juice.

Suhail, director of Miracle Meal in the UK, is already dealing with regular orders.

‘Churches have found our product useful during the pandemic,’ he said. ‘Many delivered the communion elements individually to members in advance, to be used during services broadcast online. Some ordered their own packages so they could take part in similar services.’

Communion beyond Covid

Once churches were able to meet in public again, with members suitably seated according to safety regulations, Miracle Meal supplies, which come in packs of 21, 100, 250, or 500, or 1,000, proved advantageous once more. 

‘The double-sealed containers mean it is simple to provide more with no wastage,’ explained Suhail. ‘And nothing needs washing up and cleansing afterwards.’

The vision for Miracle Meal belongs to Dominic and Alidia Symes in South Africa. The couple were on holiday in Singapore when they learnt that Dominic’s father had been diagnosed with cancer. Turning to God for support, the church in which they were worshipping used the communion service as an integral part of prayer for healing. It proved such a blessing that on their return to South Africa the couple spent two years researching how to encourage more to take communion. Miracle Meal finally came to fruition with companies set up in South Africa, America, Canada and the UK.

‘Our heart is to supply the communion cup to every Christian on this planet at a fair price,’ explained Dominic. ‘God has given our team the strength, courage and wisdom to take this product global. Please never stop praying for our team and remember Psalm 34:8: “Taste and see that the lord is good.’”

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for the CRE National 2021 handbook

Your new 64-page products and services guide to CRE National 2021. Nothing beats reading it!

ByDave Hall

A familiar face warms to new role

Christopher Dunphy is pleased to announce that the company he founded and has managed for more than 30 years has been taken over by a commercial heating company.

An ever present at CRE since 1988, Chris has installed more than 1000 church heating systems throughout the UK during that time. But now he will be at the exhibition in a new guise with ChurchEcoMiser (Surrey Hall J1) – a new, all-electric heating system designed for smaller churches.

‘It will be great to get back to Sandown Park and something approaching the new normal,’ he said. ‘CRE is a great place to visit for anyone committed to seeing their local church grow and thrive.’

Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical will now be run by Druggitt and Harding, who will exhibit under Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical at this year’s exhibition.

Warren Taylor, the company’s new managing director, who will be on the Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical stand throughout the exhibition, said: ‘I am really looking forward to the exhibition. We have taken over a company with a wealth of experience in the church heating market and we hope to complement and strengthen it with our commercial experience.’

• ChurchEcoMiser are on stand J1 and Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical Heating are on stand J4 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for the CRE National 2021 handbook

Your new 64-page products and services guide to CRE National 2021. Nothing beats reading it!

ByDave Hall

‘Rhyming’ Roche is new Baptist bard

One of the oldest non-conformist churches in Britain has been the subject of a planning application – and a newly-penned poem!

Tewksbury Baptist recently received the go ahead for a major extension and alterations, to become more proactive in the local community. Church leader Shane Roche expressed his delight in a poem which highlights the history of the church which first opened in the early 1600s. It includes the verses:

What if we had rooms that locals could use,
Where community groups crossed and shared passions and views
Where choirs could sing and children could dance,
And the disabled and impaired were given a chance

What if the poor were cared for, respected
Given self-worth, no longer dejected
What if we had coffee and food that was homely
And we invited the isolated, vulnerable and lonely

EMJ Architects, with 22 years’ experience helping churches and charities in similar situations, worked with the fellowship’s leaders to produce the plans which will create what the verses call for. A new 200-seat worship space is specified, with access through a large, open-plan entrance. 

The existing worship area will be transformed into a new activity hall, commercial kitchen and servery. New toilet facilities are also planned. On a new floor, a children’s church room will be created, along with meeting and function rooms.

Sketch from EMJ Architects

The church sits on a corner plot, between Station Road and Chance Street and the design extends the existing church towards the site boundary in both directions with a new circular tower feature on the corner forming a stairwell to the first floor. 

‘Because the church is built on land historically associated with the railway, the glazed curtain wall of the entrance will feature the etched image of a steam locomotive to illustrate the history of the site,’ said architect Ben Bonadel. ‘It will also further ground the redeveloped church in the community it serves.

‘The development will meet the needs of the church family and the wider community. The  proximity of the extended church to the public realm is intended to better connect the church with the surrounding community. Large areas of glazing create a warm and bright internal environment and speak of transparency, openness and a sense of being welcome.’

The sustainability and energy efficiency of the building are key considerations. The development will feature a significant photovoltaic (solar) roof panel array, along with the capacity for air source heating, to produce energy even on a cloudy day, reduce the carbon footprint and trim energy bills. The building will benefit from a mixed mode natural and mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery. Specific regard has been given to the management of potential disease transmission associated with recirculated air.

• EMJ Architects are on stand D11 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for the CRE National 2021 handbook

Your new 64-page products and services guide to CRE National 2021. Nothing beats reading it!

ByDave Hall

Take the first steps to making friends with strangers

When we come into contact with other faith communities it is not always easy to know what to say – but one organisation is there to help.

For almost 160 years Interserve has been reaching people in Asia and the Arab world. Its aim? To encourage Christians to engage well with people from different backgrounds and belief systems.

‘Through our Associate Church Programme, we support local churches as they work through the challenges and practicalities of presence and gospel engagement among people of other faiths and cultures,’ said Kevin Wren, Interserve’s head of development. ‘If anyone works with people from Asia and the Arab World, we can help.’

The organisation provides access to networking, guidance, consultancy, support and examples of good practice from which to develop effective and long-term, cross-cultural relationships.

‘We want to see lives transformed through an encounter with Jesus Christ,’ said Kevin. ‘We do this alongside the local church in ways that reflect the whole of life – work, rest and play. We look forward to talking to CRE visitors, to show them how we can use our experience and passion to serve them as they engage with people who may not share their convictions.’

• Interserve are on stand A42 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for the CRE National 2021 handbook

Your new 64-page products and services guide to CRE National 2021. Nothing beats reading it!

ByDave Hall

No room on the shelf for ‘real’ advent calendar

For the first time in eight years supermarkets are not stocking The Real Advent Calendar – but it will be available at the upcoming CRE National.

The calendar, made by the Meaningful Chocolate Company, includes a 24-page Christmas story activity book and supports Fairtrade. 

‘No other calendar does this, so its absence from supermarket shelves marks a significant step,’ said David Marshall, founder of the company. ‘We tried our best with Tesco, our usual stockist, but it seems there is currently no room on their shelves for the Christmas story.

The Real Advent Calendar from Meaningful Chocolate

‘The calendar is a great way for parents, grandparents and Godparents to share the Christmas story. If you are one of the 60,000 people who usually buy a Real Advent Calendar at Tesco then you need to buy at CRE National or from our website. But order soon. We ran out early last year.’

The Real Advent Calendar costs £4.50 in cases of 18 or as singles. It will be available at the KCLCT stand at CRE National 2021.

• The KCLCT Bookshop is on stand A28 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for the CRE National 2021 handbook

Your new 64-page products and services guide to CRE National 2021. Nothing beats reading it!

ByDave Hall

Welcome in the singled out

At a time when two in every five of UK adults are single, churches should do more to welcome and include them.

So say Single Friendly Church, first-time exhibitors at CRE National 2021.

‘Society is changing and the number of single people is increasing faster than ever before. Many churches are currently missing out on a huge portion of the population by focussing on couples and families,’ explained executive director Amelia Gosal.

The organisation was set up after a survey of more than 3,000 single Christians discovered many felt isolated or lonely in church. Commissioned by dating website Christian Connection, nearly 70 per cent said that being married is the expected and accepted lifestyle in church. More than 40 per cent said their churches ‘didn’t know what to do with them’. As a result, some had stopped attending altogether.

Single Friendly Church invites churches to embrace five steps to welcome and include single adults. Practical changes in key areas, including teaching, leadership and social life, can make a big difference to a single person’s experience of church.

‘We’ve made it easy to make these changes with our simple checklist audit,’ said Amelia. ‘Single people can be dynamic members of your congregation and are vital to the future of your church. We’d love to meet you at CRE and hear about your church. And we’ll send you on your way with lots of practical tips and free resources!’

• Single Friendly Church are on stand S8 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey

CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter

CRE News

Click here for CRE News

Your new 60-page products and services guide. Nothing beats reading it!