Status of the Church
We moved to Full Status at the 2006 General Assembly.
The Church
Distinctive Features
Historically, the new Mansefield Trinity was the first church of the 21st century, opening its doors to the congregation in March 2001. The building has a distinctive round design, which creates a light and airy atmosphere. Full floor to ceiling windows frequently allow the church to be flooded with sunlight during our services throughout the year. The contemporary design includes individual seating, allowing for flexibility of use according to congregational levels, and also facilitating use of the main body of the church building for our fetes, fish supper nights and Christmas concert.
Mansefield Trinity offers a place to belong for all who enter through our doors, a welcome and hospitality to the people of the local area and beyond. Tea, coffee and chat are offered to congregation and visitors alike after the Sunday service.
“The stunning thing about Mansefield is the care and welcome that awaits, and the genuine enthusiasm when one comes back into the church, even after a couple of weeks of absence.”
Location
Kilwinning, described as ‘the crossroads of Ayrshire’, has excellent transport links, including a 4x hourly train service to Glasgow (with a connecting bus link to Glasgow airport), 2x hourly to Ayr (including Glasgow Prestwick airport) and Ardrossan, 1x hourly to Largs, and an extensive network of bus routes. The road network is being continually upgraded, including the A77 and a new bypass through to Ardrossan, giving quicker access to the Largs and Greenock coast.
Kilwinning has ample facilities for shopping, schools, and leisure. It is only four miles from the beaches at Stevenston and Irvine, and is even closer to Eglinton Country Park.
Successes
During vacancy we have ‘bucked the trend’ in attracting new members, an increased number of baptisms, and by adding a weekly craft class to our organisations. Events which bring in non-members include:
• craft class
• church café
• pastoral care group
• weightwatchers
• NHS mother and baby group
• Young Musician and Singer of the Year (North Ayrshire Schools)
• Annual Brethren Conference
Weekly Cafe
Courts of the Church
The Church follows the model constitution and has a Kirk Session numbering 16 of whom 13 are active. The Congregational Board comprises 14 elected members and an equivalent number of Elders.
Mission Statement
When the building was first erected we adopted the following Mission Statement:
Our vision is that the congregation form the Christian heart at the centre of our community. We aim to:
offer joyful and relevant worship as a focus for our own lives and for those who join us on Sundays.
offer opportunities to those who join us, to grow both spiritually and personally
witness to God’s love and share the Good News
serve our community in God’s name.
The Manse
The Manse, which was purchased two years ago, is situated at 6 The Meadows, Kilwinning. It is about five minutes by car and 15/20 minutes on foot from the church. It is a modern detached bungalow comprising lounge/dining room, 4 bedrooms (one of which is a study), master en-suite, double garage, double glazed and gas central heating. It is in close proximity to Abbey Primary School which also has a nursery and Kilwinning Academy. (Pictures of the interior of the manse and Church can be sent to you on a CD if you wish.)
Finance
The Church’s financial basis is sound. We have a regular income from the Café and the Congregation are generous in their givings.
Youth at Mansefield
This is an area the church seeks to expand. Currently our weekly service includes ‘Children’s Time’ and a consistently attended toddlers group, with some primary school age children. During the vacancy there have been 12 baptisms in the church. We would like to build on this foundation to support a larger and developing Sunday School, and to find new ways to reach the youth in our area. Initiatives were taken on this front immediately prior to our vacancy arising – this activity has been on standby during the vacancy, but members of the original committee are keen to re-establish when a new minister is appointed.
Christmas Fayre
“Events at Mansefield have a sense of fun, with older members of the congregation entering wholeheartedly into the spirit of activities such as face-painting at the fete!”
History
Kilwinning has a long history both of Christianity and initiative. The name Kilwinning means ‘saint or cell of Winning’, and after its foundation the town was home to a flourishing Benedictine monastery for four centuries. Historically, Kilwinning is also notable for housing the original lodge of the Freemasons. When the lodges were renumbered, Kilwinning was kept as ‘Number 0’, the Mother Lodge of Scotland. Eglinton Castle was built in 1797, and hosted a spectacular tournament in 1839, which was re-enacted in a 150th anniversary event in 1989.
Commercially, Kilwinning has a history of wool-making and carpet-manufacture. Most of these traditional companies have now closed, but in recent years James Watt College has set up a campus in the town, boosting local businesses.
Social Calendar
Annual Weekend Away
There is an ongoing social calendar around the church, which enhances and strengthens friendships. This includes annual picnics, a fish supper night, a weekend away, and guild events – many of these occasions are oversubscribed. The church also actively supports other community events.