02 December 2024
In the coastal town of Girvan, a bold new vision of community and contemporary Methodist worship is taking shape. The Wave Community Hub represents an innovative approach to church life, blending traditional community support with a fresh, inclusive spiritual vision.
“I remember going to Girvan as a child. It was a place where we all would go and they would have lots of wonderful Christian activities going on,” remembers Janette Gillies from the Learning Network team of the Methodist Church in Scotland.
As time passed, the local Methodist community dwindled and their church closed. Girvan is among one of the most deprived places in Scotland and there are very few nice coffee shops or shops in the town. “We know the local community, often retired people, suffer from loneliness too,” adds Revd Imran Malik, Superintendent Minister of the Ayrshire and Renfrewshire Circuit.
The team's approach has been remarkable. As Imran explains, "Being a missional church is that we have to build bridges with the community. We have to get involved. If we are not connected to the community, we become an island."
This strategy of deep community engagement has yielded extraordinary results. At a pivotal community meeting, over 30 different local organisations attended. This led to the Wave Community Hub hosting a high-profile commemoration last October.
The project uncovered a profound insight into community spiritual needs. As Janette noted, when discussing potential faith exploration, "People told they would be interested in talking to us" – specifically a more conversational approach to faith around tea and coffee.
The Wave Community Hub is supported locally by Roddy McDonald, the Girvan Town Team Coordinator, who believes the building is a “huge asset for the community and we'll give it as much support as we possibly can”.
With passion and commitment, Kathleen Pearson has been instrumental in making the Wave Community Hub a reality. The Wave is a New Place for New People project, but before moving to the next stage, the team has had to bring the neglected building into shape.
Kathleen shared insights into their careful restoration process, "We fixed the roof. We spent £23,000 on the roof. We have enough funding to have electrics and plumbing updated and extended, to install a commercial kitchen and coffee servery.”
"They now have a few groups meeting in the building and have hosted various community-led events. I’ve been doing pioneering work for 25 years and I've never seen a project being so welcomed by the community."
Janette GilliesThe project has been allocated the services of funding officers from South Ayrshire Council and a National Lottery grant. They have been invited to consider a partnership with the South Ayrshire Community Health and Care Services. The Community Wealth and Business Team in Girvan will prepare a five-year business plan that will assess the Wave Community Hub’s role in the regeneration of the town.
Kathleen reflects on their journey with humility and hope, "We're not officially open, but the community here have already made us a community hub. Isn't that the way it should be?" The Wave Community Hub stands as a powerful testament to community-driven transformation, showing how traditional spaces can become vibrant centres of connection, hope and shared purpose.