“Come as you are.” That’s the welcoming message of Arbury Road Baptist Church. This church stands in the northern part of Cambridge. It is in one of the city’s less affluent areas.
Arbury Road Baptist Church has been a community landmark for over 90 years. The church is a striking architectural feature on Arbury Road. It is a celebration of 1960s architecture. Change is needed to ensure the building is welcoming. It should be as welcoming as the people inside.
Rev Matt Rowe has led the church for the last eight years. In 2021 Kimberley Rayson joined as Community Pioneer. The church is known for its missional heart. It makes an active effort to take the church to the community. They don’t just invite people in.
Most members of Arbury Road Baptist Church live nearby. The congregation has seen growth in recent times. More people from different nationalities have joined. There is a growing number of children and young people in the church. The church wants to nurture and empower these young people.
The pandemic led to big decisions for Arbury Road Baptist Church. Matt Rowe said they considered what they do and why. They also considered what kind of church they want to be. The church set out a community dream. They wanted to serve and reach out to North Cambridge.
Following the pandemic Arbury Road Baptist Church continued to stream services online. They recognized the power of the digital age. Besides Sunday services, there is a busy weekly programme. It includes a focus on mental health and wellbeing.
“Wonderfully Made” is a weekly drop-in craft space. It is a re-new wellbeing style. It’s OK not to be OK there. “Faithful Friends” meet at the Arbury Community Centre cafe. They eat, drink, read the Bible, and talk about faith. They also pray together. SPACE2BU is an after-school drop-in space. It addresses mental health and emotional well-being for young people.
Arbury Road Baptist Church often works with other local churches. These include the local Anglican Church and Community Church. The church engaged in a community consultation. They defined the design brief for its buildings. They developed a strategic design proposal. The goal was to release the potential of the site. They wanted the building to better serve the needs of the church. They also wanted it to better serve its mission to the local community.
The proposals are comprehensive and exciting. They will make a big difference to the church. The church wants to continue its service to the local community. Arbury Road Baptist Church continues to bring life and hope to the community. It welcomes everyone.