CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IN NORTH RYDE

50th ANNIVERSARY
NORTH RYDE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
In November 1961, the NR Gospel Hall was completed, but what had gone on behind the scenes prior to that date? (At that time there was a lot of enthusiasm mostly due to training in discipling, counselling & evangelism for the 1959 Billy Graham Crusade) It all started when Peter Beebys Father, Ken Beeby, & Walter Lickley felt the need to find property where an Assembly hall could be built, in an area where we could have an outreach to children YP and families, which we didnt have at the time as many of us attended the assembly meeting in Bathurst St in the City. Ken and Margaret Beeby & Walter Lickley drove around the newly opened up North Ryde area and found many children playing in Pindari St. The street then only went as far as Pindari Park and below that was still bush, but Ken believed that this was the right place and the Lord gave the OK and the two blocks of land adjacent to the park were purchased for 1,720 pound.

BUILDING COMMENCED
A building committee consisting of Ken Beeby, Andre Grul, Paul Appleby & John Duck under the direction of the Reference committee of the Combined Assemblies Trust, consisting of Walter Lickley, Fred Homan, and Alan Simmons. John Beresford was engaged to build the North Ryde Church. Many others involved in the work included Alick Hepworth, Cyril Patterson, Colin Tizzard, Peter Beeby, Ben Lickley, Sid Drewett, Alan Homan and others and their wives. Much of the work was carried out by voluntary labour. All the deep trenches were dug by hand, as well as the flooring and many other tasks such as painting, electrical & sealing all the outside walls with a waterproof coating. The building was constructed before the days of computers, and engineering details for the low pitch design of the roof were not available at the time.

NORTH RYDE CHRISTIAN CHURCH Pindari Street North Ryde

1961 - 2011

So to prove the feasibility of the roof design, John Beresford was required by council to test the rafter structure by placing 13 bags of cement on a sample section to prove its suitability. This is one of the obstacles that John faced, which today with modern technology we take for granted.

A prayer and Bible study group had started meeting in Andre and Ellen Gruls home in Parklands Road and this group became the nucleus of the newly formed Assembly. The building was completed for the cost of 5,300 plus an additional cost of 4,000 for charges & furnishings

YOUTH CLUBS
As we look back over the 50 years, children & YP not only attended the SS & BC, in this hall, but a weekly programme of youth activities also commenced 50 years ago. Monday night was for the Junior Girls Club, led with Irene Pawley, Nancy Guildford, & Bessie Lucas. Tuesday night was for Senior Girls which was started by Marg Beeby, Marion Appleby, Lyn Wills & Pat Parker, with their games & hobbies, singing & devotions. Thursday Junior boys leaders back then were Alick Hepworth, Andre Grul, Paul Appleby & Alan Homan. Friday - Senior boys club was started by Ken Beeby, Ian Mottram, Peter Appleby, & Ian Taylor, with games, gymnastics, hobbies, devotions & supper. Contribution was 6d. It was a big help for the youth activities & SS when the rear hall was added onto in 1975.

DEDICATION
The dedication service was conducted on the 18th November, 1961. A large street plan was drawn up, with every house number, and a door to door visitation programme commenced visiting every home in the surrounding area inviting them, and particularly children and young people, to the newly commenced Sunday school, Bible Classes, Youth Clubs, & Gospel meetings.

SUNDAY SCHOOL
Well start with the Sunday School which was headed up by John Duck, followed by Alan Homan, & later Jeff Jansen. It wasnt very long before we needed a bus to pick up the children & this was acquired from the Ryde Parramatta Bus Company, which served our needs for many years which was replaced in 1985 with the present Toyota Coaster. The Junior SS also was led by John Quail, John Peasey, Jane Whittaker, Judy Smith, all with the purpose of bringing alive the Bible stories, each with a particular theme & message, to challenge the hearts of the children with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many of the children who attended then came to know the Saviour, & are now today still following the one who loved them & died for them. Sunday School anniversaries have always been a feature on the North Ryde calendar. These anniversaries in the 1960s were held with a tiered stage for seating the approximately 85 children who attended in those early days. Prizes were awarded for attendance, conduct, Scripture learning & completing lessons, & certificates for completing exams. In those early days we had much to encourage the children by having bus outings, hikes, beach breakfasts, camps, family BBQ evenings in homes, as well as the annual SS picnics at Lane Cove River Park.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL & CAMPS

During the first week of school holidays a large marquee was erected & a multitude of children came to participate in activities & were not only introduced to the Sunday School & Youth Clubs but found the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. Ken & Margaret Beeby then also started the childrens camps which introduced many more children to Jesus Christ.

OTHER ACTIVITIES
Many other outreach activities such as Coffee Shop, Sunday Night Live, Counselling Facility, Carols in the Park, John Collier with Scripture at Peter Board High School, after school drop in Centre for teens, bus work organised by Ian Mottram inviting people from Kings Cross to hear the Gospel & provide supper before returning. Buses transporting the community from the North Ryde Church to Randwick for the 1969 Billy Graham Crusade provided an opportunity where many were introduced to Christ. The Assembly grew with a strong focus on prayer, worship, learning from the Word of God, loving fellowship, evangelism and commitment in growing the work here at North Ryde & reaching out to the community with the love of Christ. There is still a warm loving invitation & welcome to everyone. info@northrydechurch.org Ph. 9878 6639 or 9878 1974

YOUNG PEOPLES BIBLE CLASS

The Bible Class was commenced & led by John Beresford who was able to nurture many YP, including those graduating from the Sunday School. The Bible Class provided that Bible training that YP need for becoming stronger Christians.