Our New Church Address is:
Sonrise Church
St Peter and St Paul's
Chapel Park Road
St Leonards on Sea
East Sussex TN37 6RP
01424 433489
Sunday, 8 July 2012
Monday, 12 July 2010
We have moved
We have moved again and now meet at:
Concordia Hall
Church Road
St Leonards on Sea
East Sussex
TN37 6HB
Sunday service starts @ 10am
See you there!
Monday, 2 February 2009
Sonrise Church Moves
Our new venue for our Sunday services is:
The Youth Centre,
Old Church Road,
St Leonards on Sea,
East Sussex.
Every Sunday 10.30am
See you Soon!!
Pastor Glenn
Monday, 15 December 2008
Evidence From Glenn Khan
Some people have not really believed me when I tell them I went to stage school and studied Ballet and Tap as well as drama and art, so here's the proof!
Never hit the big time, saying that I did come very close a couple of times!
Never hit the big time, saying that I did come very close a couple of times!
Friday, 5 December 2008
Christians making a difference?
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
If you really believe this statement God will be the centre of your life!
If you really believe this statement God will be the centre of your life!
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Mistakes
We all make mistakes in life, some more then others! The key is to learn from our mistakes and move on.
Monday, 24 November 2008
Northern Soul - No Excuse
I love the Northern Soul scene, first track I bought was 'Out on the floor' by Dobie Gray.
Keep the Faith - Glenn
Keep the Faith - Glenn
Saturday, 22 November 2008
Geoff Leigh and Sonrise Church
I find Geoff Leighs blog on Sonrise Church Hastings interesting, funny and at the same time quite sad and frightening all at the same time! Geoff Leigh the author has written against us as a church since January 2007.
It all started when we placed an offer into Hastings Borough Council for the use of St Mary in the Castle, an old Church building.
The reason I am writing about this now is that as many will be aware we have decided to leave St Mary in the Castle in January 2009 due to continued harassment and attacks on myself, my family and the Church.
I am hoping that when I show Geoff Leigh the errors of his ways he will realise his mistakes, admit he got it wrong and bring correction.
Who Is Geoff Leigh?
Geoff Leigh (born 5 October 1945) is an English jazz and progressive rock musician, playing primarily soprano sax and flute. He was a member of the English avant-garde rock group Henry Cow and founded several bands himself, including Red Balune, Random Bob, Black Sheep, Mirage, and Ex-Wise Heads.
I have complied a list of questions and facts which I will be sending to Geoff Leigh in regard to his blog about Sonrise Church in Hastings and will look forward to his reply. I am only interested in facts and will be asking some straight questions which I hope I will get some straight answers to.
1. Why do you call us an “American based Church”?
2. Can you provide evidence for this statement?
The truth is we are not an American based church, anyone who does their research will prove this to be true. We are part of a church group called Christian Outreach Centre which was founded in Australia in the early seventies.
3. You direct people to visit three web sites by link on your blog which are:
www.sonrise.net/
www.sonrisepalmdale.org
Sonrise Community Church (Unite Service)
Other then the name of these churches what research did you do to confirm any connection to our church? Please provide evidence.
4. What was the purpose behind posting these links on your blog?
The truth again is that we have no connection with any of these churches, either in the past or now, they are not connected to us in anyway what so ever. To suggest we are connected with these churches is misleading and untruthful.
Geoff I really don’t mind you doing a blog about myself or the church in fact its an honour to think you think I’m worthy of your time, but please do your research.
One example of some one who has done their research well is 'Barth Notes' a few small mistakes but none that are truly misleading.
It all started when we placed an offer into Hastings Borough Council for the use of St Mary in the Castle, an old Church building.
The reason I am writing about this now is that as many will be aware we have decided to leave St Mary in the Castle in January 2009 due to continued harassment and attacks on myself, my family and the Church.
I am hoping that when I show Geoff Leigh the errors of his ways he will realise his mistakes, admit he got it wrong and bring correction.
Who Is Geoff Leigh?
Geoff Leigh (born 5 October 1945) is an English jazz and progressive rock musician, playing primarily soprano sax and flute. He was a member of the English avant-garde rock group Henry Cow and founded several bands himself, including Red Balune, Random Bob, Black Sheep, Mirage, and Ex-Wise Heads.
I have complied a list of questions and facts which I will be sending to Geoff Leigh in regard to his blog about Sonrise Church in Hastings and will look forward to his reply. I am only interested in facts and will be asking some straight questions which I hope I will get some straight answers to.
1. Why do you call us an “American based Church”?
2. Can you provide evidence for this statement?
The truth is we are not an American based church, anyone who does their research will prove this to be true. We are part of a church group called Christian Outreach Centre which was founded in Australia in the early seventies.
3. You direct people to visit three web sites by link on your blog which are:
www.sonrise.net/
www.sonrisepalmdale.org
Sonrise Community Church (Unite Service)
Other then the name of these churches what research did you do to confirm any connection to our church? Please provide evidence.
4. What was the purpose behind posting these links on your blog?
The truth again is that we have no connection with any of these churches, either in the past or now, they are not connected to us in anyway what so ever. To suggest we are connected with these churches is misleading and untruthful.
Geoff I really don’t mind you doing a blog about myself or the church in fact its an honour to think you think I’m worthy of your time, but please do your research.
One example of some one who has done their research well is 'Barth Notes' a few small mistakes but none that are truly misleading.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Jack in the Green
The following story recently appeared in the Hastings Observer. What a small group artists have done has so effected our local community in a negative way.
Published Date:
13 November 2008
By Richard Gladstone
The popular Jack-in-the-Green festival could be massively scaled down next year.
The much-loved event is held during the first weekend in May and draws in more than 50,000 visitors to Hastings each year.
But organisers have been told they must find an alternative venue for part of the celebrations after St Mary-in-the-Castle lease-holders Sonrise Church decided to leave town.
Keith Leech, chairman of the Jack-in-the-Green committee, was sent a letter from bosses at Hastings Borough Council this week informing him of the news.
He said: "We are now having increasing problems finding venues as all of them seem to be closing down.
"We used to use the pier for a long time until it closed down and lately we have been using St Mary-in-the-Castle as the main venue for the event.
"Sonrise Church has decided not to renew its lease of the building so all those who have bookings after January next year will have to find an alternative venue. That means St Mary-in-the-Castle will be closed from January until the council has a new tenant.
"A few artists have completely ruined a major arts event because of their bad behaviour.
"This will now cause us a major headache and could be financially disasterous for Jack-in-the-Green."
Sonrise Church decided to leave St Mary-in-the-Castle after allegations of harassment by a group of 'faceless, nameless people'.
It was given the lease at the beginning of last year - a move which caused widespread anger among the town's arts community.
Mr Leech said the unavailability of the seafront venue will cut down the number of teams taking part in the event.
Organisers stage live music and barn dancing at St Mary-in-the-Castle before the Jack is paraded through the Old Town in a procession on the last day of the festival, which this year celebrated its 25th anniversary.
The Jack is then taken to Hastings Castle where it is symbolically slain and the Spirit of Summer is released for another year.
Mr Leech said: "The people of Hastings have lost out again.
"We may have to use school halls for the various events. The event is town-centre based. Because of this latest news it could be a much scaled down event."
Council bosses are currently searching for a new tenant to take over the running of St Mary-in-the-Castle and advising anyone who has booked the venue after January to find an alternative venue.
Published Date:
13 November 2008
By Richard Gladstone
The popular Jack-in-the-Green festival could be massively scaled down next year.
The much-loved event is held during the first weekend in May and draws in more than 50,000 visitors to Hastings each year.
But organisers have been told they must find an alternative venue for part of the celebrations after St Mary-in-the-Castle lease-holders Sonrise Church decided to leave town.
Keith Leech, chairman of the Jack-in-the-Green committee, was sent a letter from bosses at Hastings Borough Council this week informing him of the news.
He said: "We are now having increasing problems finding venues as all of them seem to be closing down.
"We used to use the pier for a long time until it closed down and lately we have been using St Mary-in-the-Castle as the main venue for the event.
"Sonrise Church has decided not to renew its lease of the building so all those who have bookings after January next year will have to find an alternative venue. That means St Mary-in-the-Castle will be closed from January until the council has a new tenant.
"A few artists have completely ruined a major arts event because of their bad behaviour.
"This will now cause us a major headache and could be financially disasterous for Jack-in-the-Green."
Sonrise Church decided to leave St Mary-in-the-Castle after allegations of harassment by a group of 'faceless, nameless people'.
It was given the lease at the beginning of last year - a move which caused widespread anger among the town's arts community.
Mr Leech said the unavailability of the seafront venue will cut down the number of teams taking part in the event.
Organisers stage live music and barn dancing at St Mary-in-the-Castle before the Jack is paraded through the Old Town in a procession on the last day of the festival, which this year celebrated its 25th anniversary.
The Jack is then taken to Hastings Castle where it is symbolically slain and the Spirit of Summer is released for another year.
Mr Leech said: "The people of Hastings have lost out again.
"We may have to use school halls for the various events. The event is town-centre based. Because of this latest news it could be a much scaled down event."
Council bosses are currently searching for a new tenant to take over the running of St Mary-in-the-Castle and advising anyone who has booked the venue after January to find an alternative venue.
Was Glenn Khan a Mod?
Was Glenn Khan a Mod?
Some people have asked if it’s true that I was a Vespa riding Mod in my teens and early twenties? The answer is Yes, Yes!
In fact in some respects once a Mod always a Mod!
The main music I listened to at that time {and still do now} came from Motown, The Northern Soul scene and Modern Jazz, and then from the early eighties we had the The Jam, Secret Affair and some smaller Mod revival groups.
Great times and it was great contacting some of my old Mod mates through Facebook recently. Some were still riding scooters and going to all nighter’s! Now where did I store my Parka!!!!!!!!!!
So there you have it the truth is out!
Some people have asked if it’s true that I was a Vespa riding Mod in my teens and early twenties? The answer is Yes, Yes!
In fact in some respects once a Mod always a Mod!
The main music I listened to at that time {and still do now} came from Motown, The Northern Soul scene and Modern Jazz, and then from the early eighties we had the The Jam, Secret Affair and some smaller Mod revival groups.
Great times and it was great contacting some of my old Mod mates through Facebook recently. Some were still riding scooters and going to all nighter’s! Now where did I store my Parka!!!!!!!!!!
So there you have it the truth is out!
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Church Today
Had a great day today, from the moment I walked in there was a real Buzz! Tim, Daisy and the worship team did really well and there was a real sense of the presence of God.
I gave a message from 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 on the body of Christ/ the Church.
I gave a message from 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 on the body of Christ/ the Church.
Friday, 17 October 2008
The Christian Faith Under Attack!
Today I am thinking about all those Christians who love the Lord around the world that suffer torture and death rather then deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ who is the the way, the truth and the life.
Despite all the lies and attacks we have suffered in Hastings it is nothing compared with what our brothers and sisters through out the world suffer every day.
Jesus never promised an easy time while we live on the earth, infact he promised perscution. In Hebrews 12:3 it reminds us to keep our eyes on Jesus
"For Consider Him who endured such hostility from Sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."
I pray for those who attack us that they will find the peace of God in their own hearts. That they will know the Joy we have in knowing the risen Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Despite all the lies and attacks we have suffered in Hastings it is nothing compared with what our brothers and sisters through out the world suffer every day.
Jesus never promised an easy time while we live on the earth, infact he promised perscution. In Hebrews 12:3 it reminds us to keep our eyes on Jesus
"For Consider Him who endured such hostility from Sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."
I pray for those who attack us that they will find the peace of God in their own hearts. That they will know the Joy we have in knowing the risen Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Thursday, 16 October 2008
These are two of the letters appearing in the Hastings Observer over the last two weeks yet giving out false claims and attackings us as Pastors:
All very hard to believe
IF Pastor Greg and Catherine Khan have been receiving threats and have been subject to faith hate campaigns then I am sorry to hear it and I most certainly would not condone such behaviour. I do however have great difficulty in believing that any of this is true.
I attended the council meeting in January 2007 and, yes, artists who were present did react angrily (and justifiably) when the lease of St Mary in the Castle was undemocratically handed over to Sonrise Church by a narrow minded Tory Council.
I do not however, recall artists personally threatening them nor attacking their faith. How would Sonrise Church have liked it if they had been unfairly evicted from their premises?
Was it not bad enough that the artists (who play a pivotal role in representing Hastings and keeping it on the map) lost their venue unfairly? Let alone Sonrise Church accuse artists of threatening them and their children. Such allegations are spiteful and wicked in the extreme. Talk of 'kicking someone when they are already down'.
Artists may hold points of view and - even practise another faith which does not tally with Sonrise Church's narrow minded and extreme religious views. Is that what they see as threatening? If the answer to that question is yes, then I am very sorry, Mr and Mrs Khan, but art is about challenging and questioning and sometimes it hurts.
As a member of the artists' community I do not attack people's religious faiths and I'm sure that I speak for the other Hastings artists. I would defend people's rights to attend their places of worship and practice their faith.
I must point out that there are devout Christians among the Hastings artists. I would also add that members of my family and friends are practising Christians and yet not a single one of them has mentioned having received threats and being subject to faith hate campaigns.
If Sonrise Church do not like the contents of my letter then please, by all means, feel welcome to come and stone me but before you do, go back to your bibles first, because you might find that there a couple of things that you have missed out and they are "Judge not lest ye be judged" Matthew 7:1-5 and "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"
I rest my case.
NICK ROWLAND
Tillington Terrace, Hastings
Manipulative behaviour
MAY I make a few points about your reports on Sonrise Church's decision to quit St Mary in the Castle?
1. You ask us to vote for or against condemning "the harassment experienced by Sonrise Church", as if this was a proven fact. Not "alleged death threats", nor "death threats" in quotation marks. Yet no-one has been charged, brought to court or found guilty. This sort of crying foul and finger-pointing by Sonrise is classic manipulative behaviour, which any parent would recognise and any serious journalist should question.
2. I was one of the founders of both SoCo and the Arts Forum. Speaking as a self-confessed "arts activist", I never heard talk of any threats. Yes, people were angered by the Council's procedures which many saw as covert, unfair, undemocratic and irresponsible, but they blamed the one-party cabinet and the council officers who were driving this controversial decision.
3. The divisive "Christians versus artists" presentation ignores two things. Sonrise would be disowned by many Christians, while the arts community includes many passionate Christians. Many across the spectrum were anxious about the influence on vulnerable people of untrained, unsupervised and self-appointed "pastors", and feared Sonrise's tenure of SMIC would magnify its credibility. In the event, they had clearly bitten off more than they could chew.
4. The real issue now is the town's need for a high quality flagship arts centre. Arts and culture are not a minority middle class pursuit but a life-enhancing essential found throughout the world, in rich and poor communities. From early childhood we all draw and paint, sing and dance, make up stories and act out dramas. Arts are also an effective antidote to mindless violence and criminality.
5. For Hastings, the arts are a powerful earner of income and prestige. Supposedly elitist artists make a major contribution to popular mass events such as the Carnival, Old Town Week and the Bonfire. St. Mary in the Castle, though not the easiest building, could be again a fully-functioning, financially solvent multi-arts venue for everyone to enjoy and be proud of.
6. The Observer often celebrates the achievements of our talented youngsters. Wouldn't it be more consistent if you also supported the establishment of an arts centre that can inspire and support them? So I hope the Observer will now play fair and support the sort of open bidding process for St. Mary's future use that we should have had two years ago.
RACHEL LEVER (Member of SoCo and Arts Forum)
Boscobel Road North, St. Leonards
All very hard to believe
IF Pastor Greg and Catherine Khan have been receiving threats and have been subject to faith hate campaigns then I am sorry to hear it and I most certainly would not condone such behaviour. I do however have great difficulty in believing that any of this is true.
I attended the council meeting in January 2007 and, yes, artists who were present did react angrily (and justifiably) when the lease of St Mary in the Castle was undemocratically handed over to Sonrise Church by a narrow minded Tory Council.
I do not however, recall artists personally threatening them nor attacking their faith. How would Sonrise Church have liked it if they had been unfairly evicted from their premises?
Was it not bad enough that the artists (who play a pivotal role in representing Hastings and keeping it on the map) lost their venue unfairly? Let alone Sonrise Church accuse artists of threatening them and their children. Such allegations are spiteful and wicked in the extreme. Talk of 'kicking someone when they are already down'.
Artists may hold points of view and - even practise another faith which does not tally with Sonrise Church's narrow minded and extreme religious views. Is that what they see as threatening? If the answer to that question is yes, then I am very sorry, Mr and Mrs Khan, but art is about challenging and questioning and sometimes it hurts.
As a member of the artists' community I do not attack people's religious faiths and I'm sure that I speak for the other Hastings artists. I would defend people's rights to attend their places of worship and practice their faith.
I must point out that there are devout Christians among the Hastings artists. I would also add that members of my family and friends are practising Christians and yet not a single one of them has mentioned having received threats and being subject to faith hate campaigns.
If Sonrise Church do not like the contents of my letter then please, by all means, feel welcome to come and stone me but before you do, go back to your bibles first, because you might find that there a couple of things that you have missed out and they are "Judge not lest ye be judged" Matthew 7:1-5 and "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"
I rest my case.
NICK ROWLAND
Tillington Terrace, Hastings
Manipulative behaviour
MAY I make a few points about your reports on Sonrise Church's decision to quit St Mary in the Castle?
1. You ask us to vote for or against condemning "the harassment experienced by Sonrise Church", as if this was a proven fact. Not "alleged death threats", nor "death threats" in quotation marks. Yet no-one has been charged, brought to court or found guilty. This sort of crying foul and finger-pointing by Sonrise is classic manipulative behaviour, which any parent would recognise and any serious journalist should question.
2. I was one of the founders of both SoCo and the Arts Forum. Speaking as a self-confessed "arts activist", I never heard talk of any threats. Yes, people were angered by the Council's procedures which many saw as covert, unfair, undemocratic and irresponsible, but they blamed the one-party cabinet and the council officers who were driving this controversial decision.
3. The divisive "Christians versus artists" presentation ignores two things. Sonrise would be disowned by many Christians, while the arts community includes many passionate Christians. Many across the spectrum were anxious about the influence on vulnerable people of untrained, unsupervised and self-appointed "pastors", and feared Sonrise's tenure of SMIC would magnify its credibility. In the event, they had clearly bitten off more than they could chew.
4. The real issue now is the town's need for a high quality flagship arts centre. Arts and culture are not a minority middle class pursuit but a life-enhancing essential found throughout the world, in rich and poor communities. From early childhood we all draw and paint, sing and dance, make up stories and act out dramas. Arts are also an effective antidote to mindless violence and criminality.
5. For Hastings, the arts are a powerful earner of income and prestige. Supposedly elitist artists make a major contribution to popular mass events such as the Carnival, Old Town Week and the Bonfire. St. Mary in the Castle, though not the easiest building, could be again a fully-functioning, financially solvent multi-arts venue for everyone to enjoy and be proud of.
6. The Observer often celebrates the achievements of our talented youngsters. Wouldn't it be more consistent if you also supported the establishment of an arts centre that can inspire and support them? So I hope the Observer will now play fair and support the sort of open bidding process for St. Mary's future use that we should have had two years ago.
RACHEL LEVER (Member of SoCo and Arts Forum)
Boscobel Road North, St. Leonards
Smear Campaign Against Church
The following is a message I have left on the Hastings Observer Message Board in regard to the slanderous attacks now being directed against us.
"I feel I have to yet again respond to this new attack on us a church and ask you to please, please, please stop and leave us alone.
For all those involved in this new smear campaign all you need to do is call Hastings Police who will confirm they are in contact with us at this time in regard to the harassment we have had.
Anyone reading this message board now will understand why we have suffered so much in the last 18 months as this is a drop in the ocean to the emails and letter we have received slandering us and showing intolerance towards us and our Christian faith.
The question maybe has to be raised now, is it right for an Individual or group who receive local or national government funding when evidence can clearly be shown by email or letter that they choose to make false claims and defamatory statements about a small minority group within their community without providing proof of their claims against that small minority group?
It can not be right that local or national government would fund and support directly or indirectly anyone involved in such acts which clearly designed to bring disunity and friction among local community and build hatred towards one group".
Glenn Khan
"I feel I have to yet again respond to this new attack on us a church and ask you to please, please, please stop and leave us alone.
For all those involved in this new smear campaign all you need to do is call Hastings Police who will confirm they are in contact with us at this time in regard to the harassment we have had.
Anyone reading this message board now will understand why we have suffered so much in the last 18 months as this is a drop in the ocean to the emails and letter we have received slandering us and showing intolerance towards us and our Christian faith.
The question maybe has to be raised now, is it right for an Individual or group who receive local or national government funding when evidence can clearly be shown by email or letter that they choose to make false claims and defamatory statements about a small minority group within their community without providing proof of their claims against that small minority group?
It can not be right that local or national government would fund and support directly or indirectly anyone involved in such acts which clearly designed to bring disunity and friction among local community and build hatred towards one group".
Glenn Khan
Monday, 13 October 2008
A new smear campaign begins?
It appears that us leaving SMIC is not enough! We are now being accused of not telling the truth in regard to the police being involved. The other smear campaign that seems to have started is that the real reason we are leaving SMIC is that we cannot afford to run the building. On this post we will update you as more accusations come to light.
Can we please assure everyone that neither claim is true but is another example of the sought of things we have suffered for the last 18 months.
If anyone else is aware of any other things being said about us please let us know, we then consider if we need to pass that information onto the Police.
.
Can we please assure everyone that neither claim is true but is another example of the sought of things we have suffered for the last 18 months.
If anyone else is aware of any other things being said about us please let us know, we then consider if we need to pass that information onto the Police.
.
Letter of Support from SMICF
Friends of St Mary in the Castle 'disappointed' over Sonrise decision to end lease.
By Richard Gladstone - Hastings Observer
The Friends of St Mary in the Castle have said they are 'disappointed' over Sonrise Church's decision to end its lease of the building.
The move comes after the latter announced its decision last week because of allegations of harassment from people.
Ron Sollars, secretary of the Friends of St Mary in the Castle, said: "Originally there was opposition to the way the lease was granted by Hastings Borough Council without consultation even with the Friends group themselves, formed by former Friends members who restored and administered the building from 1993.
"However we feel that Sonrise have done a great job in maintaining the building with many improvements.
"The Friends feel it is important for a new leaseholder to be appointed quickly and not for the building to be closed and left to deteriorate.
Owing to its unique construction the building is set into the rock under Hastings Castle and continual maintenance is essential.
"The Friends urge anybody interested in this remarkable piece of Hastings history to contact councillors to urge speedy tendering for a new lessee."
Sonrise Church, which took over the running of St Mary in the Castle in January last year, said it has endured a campaign of hatred from a small group of people for almost two years and plans to vacant the premises in January.
Glenn and Cathy Khan, senior pastors, said they have had to put up with constant harassment from a minority of 'nameless, faceless people'.
On one occasion eggs were thrown at their front door at their home and their car vandalised, the couple told the Observer.
Mr and Mrs Khan said: "We would like to thank all those who have given us their support and encouragement over the past year.
"As many in the community will be aware, since January 2007 we have been the subjects of a faith hate campaign. So extreme has this campaign against us as a family been that on several occasions we have had to involve the police.
"We are no longer willing to put our family, our home and congregation at risk due to a small minority of people who have opposed our tenancy from the outset."
Sonrise Church was given a five-year lease to run St Mary in the Castle by the council which caused uproar within the arts community.
Deputy mayor Peter Armstrong likened the animosity towards the church as 'some of the worst excesses of the French Revolution'.
He said: "Since Sonrise Church took over it has had more than 100 events at St Mary in the Castle and more than 2,500 people through the doors so it has done what it promised to do.
"The church has been slandered and libelled against and received very unpleasant threats."
Hastings Arts Forum said it did not believe any of its members had been responsible for the alleged harassment of Sonrise Church.
The Friends will also be contacting other agencies who may be interested in running St Mary in the Castle in future.
By Richard Gladstone - Hastings Observer
The Friends of St Mary in the Castle have said they are 'disappointed' over Sonrise Church's decision to end its lease of the building.
The move comes after the latter announced its decision last week because of allegations of harassment from people.
Ron Sollars, secretary of the Friends of St Mary in the Castle, said: "Originally there was opposition to the way the lease was granted by Hastings Borough Council without consultation even with the Friends group themselves, formed by former Friends members who restored and administered the building from 1993.
"However we feel that Sonrise have done a great job in maintaining the building with many improvements.
"The Friends feel it is important for a new leaseholder to be appointed quickly and not for the building to be closed and left to deteriorate.
Owing to its unique construction the building is set into the rock under Hastings Castle and continual maintenance is essential.
"The Friends urge anybody interested in this remarkable piece of Hastings history to contact councillors to urge speedy tendering for a new lessee."
Sonrise Church, which took over the running of St Mary in the Castle in January last year, said it has endured a campaign of hatred from a small group of people for almost two years and plans to vacant the premises in January.
Glenn and Cathy Khan, senior pastors, said they have had to put up with constant harassment from a minority of 'nameless, faceless people'.
On one occasion eggs were thrown at their front door at their home and their car vandalised, the couple told the Observer.
Mr and Mrs Khan said: "We would like to thank all those who have given us their support and encouragement over the past year.
"As many in the community will be aware, since January 2007 we have been the subjects of a faith hate campaign. So extreme has this campaign against us as a family been that on several occasions we have had to involve the police.
"We are no longer willing to put our family, our home and congregation at risk due to a small minority of people who have opposed our tenancy from the outset."
Sonrise Church was given a five-year lease to run St Mary in the Castle by the council which caused uproar within the arts community.
Deputy mayor Peter Armstrong likened the animosity towards the church as 'some of the worst excesses of the French Revolution'.
He said: "Since Sonrise Church took over it has had more than 100 events at St Mary in the Castle and more than 2,500 people through the doors so it has done what it promised to do.
"The church has been slandered and libelled against and received very unpleasant threats."
Hastings Arts Forum said it did not believe any of its members had been responsible for the alleged harassment of Sonrise Church.
The Friends will also be contacting other agencies who may be interested in running St Mary in the Castle in future.
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Your wrong!
We wish to make it clear and stop all the gossip now. We are not putting an offer in for:
1/ The Ice Rink
2/ The Pier
3/ The White Rock Theatre
We are looking at five buildings now as a possible option to St Mary in the Castle.
1/ The Ice Rink
2/ The Pier
3/ The White Rock Theatre
We are looking at five buildings now as a possible option to St Mary in the Castle.
It hits the press!
Our decision to leave St Mary in the Castle has now been in the press for 3 weeks. Our main focus is to now find a new home for the Church.
Saturday, 27 September 2008
This cannot be true!
This cannot be true, its been reported to us that one Hastings Councillor has said to another "I would rather St Mary in the Castle was bulldozed then a church have it."
If anyone can confirm this please let us know!
As Pastors we have decided the above cannot be true, if it were true it would be a very sad day for Hastings and St Mary in the Castle.
If anyone can confirm this please let us know!
As Pastors we have decided the above cannot be true, if it were true it would be a very sad day for Hastings and St Mary in the Castle.
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Press Announcement September 2008
Sonrise Church Announcement.
Glenn and Cathy Khan the Senior Pastors of Sonrise Church in Hastings in conjunction with the Trustees of the charity have decided to invoke the 18 month clause in their 5 year lease with Hastings Borough Council for St Mary in the Castle..
This means that at the end of January 2009 they will no longer be the tenants of St Mary in the Castle.
Glenn and Cathy Khan wish to make the following statement:
“ We would like to thank all those who have given us their support and encouragement in the last year of us running St Mary in the Castle. As many in the community would be aware that since January 2007 we have been the subject of a faith hate campaign. So extreme has this campaign against us as a family been that on several occasions we have had to involve the police.
We feel that even though we have proven that we can run St Mary in the Castle very successfully as a community venue for the whole of Hastings we are still not being left alone to enjoy our tenancy of the building.
We are no longer willing to put our family, our home and congregation at risk due to a small minority of people who unfortunately seem to have the support of the local Labour party which saddens and shocks us at the same time. A councillor within the Labour party had published a letter against us with false and incorrect information, which gives our full home address, this has now been placed on the Internet putting our family and us at risk once again.
The Local Labour have never offered us any support except for councillor Godfrey Daniels who helped resolve an issue in regard to the road outside the building, The Labour party do carry a great responsibility in how we have suffered both as a church and as a family. Had they kept to looking at what is best for Hastings and not seen us a pawn to use in their fight with the local Conservative Party we may not have suffered so much.
We were shocked by the hatred we witnessed at the council meeting in January 2007 when our proposal for St Mary in the Castle was discussed. We were personally threatened by members of a local arts group, but we had hoped that as people saw us fulfilling our promises in regard to keeping St Mary in the Castle open to the public this would abate, this is clearly not the case.
From a Christian perspective we choose to forgive those who have attacked so often in the last year and half and hold no malice against them, in fact we would ask that God would bless them.
St Mary in the Castle is a unique building that we saw had great potential for us and the community and that’s why we presented a full business plan to Hastings Borough Council at the end of 2006.
We believe we have fulfilled all our aims in that business plan, including opening it up as a Community and Arts Centre, Art Gallery and Coffee Bar, with Church Services being held on Sundays.
We would hope who ever the new tenants are after we leave, they would continue to make St Mary in the Castle available to everyone in Hastings.
We would again like to thank all those who have given us their support and encouragement and all the local churches who stood with us in prayer.”
Glenn and Cathy Khan
Senior Pastors
Sonrise Church
Glenn and Cathy Khan the Senior Pastors of Sonrise Church in Hastings in conjunction with the Trustees of the charity have decided to invoke the 18 month clause in their 5 year lease with Hastings Borough Council for St Mary in the Castle..
This means that at the end of January 2009 they will no longer be the tenants of St Mary in the Castle.
Glenn and Cathy Khan wish to make the following statement:
“ We would like to thank all those who have given us their support and encouragement in the last year of us running St Mary in the Castle. As many in the community would be aware that since January 2007 we have been the subject of a faith hate campaign. So extreme has this campaign against us as a family been that on several occasions we have had to involve the police.
We feel that even though we have proven that we can run St Mary in the Castle very successfully as a community venue for the whole of Hastings we are still not being left alone to enjoy our tenancy of the building.
We are no longer willing to put our family, our home and congregation at risk due to a small minority of people who unfortunately seem to have the support of the local Labour party which saddens and shocks us at the same time. A councillor within the Labour party had published a letter against us with false and incorrect information, which gives our full home address, this has now been placed on the Internet putting our family and us at risk once again.
The Local Labour have never offered us any support except for councillor Godfrey Daniels who helped resolve an issue in regard to the road outside the building, The Labour party do carry a great responsibility in how we have suffered both as a church and as a family. Had they kept to looking at what is best for Hastings and not seen us a pawn to use in their fight with the local Conservative Party we may not have suffered so much.
We were shocked by the hatred we witnessed at the council meeting in January 2007 when our proposal for St Mary in the Castle was discussed. We were personally threatened by members of a local arts group, but we had hoped that as people saw us fulfilling our promises in regard to keeping St Mary in the Castle open to the public this would abate, this is clearly not the case.
From a Christian perspective we choose to forgive those who have attacked so often in the last year and half and hold no malice against them, in fact we would ask that God would bless them.
St Mary in the Castle is a unique building that we saw had great potential for us and the community and that’s why we presented a full business plan to Hastings Borough Council at the end of 2006.
We believe we have fulfilled all our aims in that business plan, including opening it up as a Community and Arts Centre, Art Gallery and Coffee Bar, with Church Services being held on Sundays.
We would hope who ever the new tenants are after we leave, they would continue to make St Mary in the Castle available to everyone in Hastings.
We would again like to thank all those who have given us their support and encouragement and all the local churches who stood with us in prayer.”
Glenn and Cathy Khan
Senior Pastors
Sonrise Church
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