Banbury church congregation steps back in time

Cllr John Donaldson, Martin Harris from Edgar Taylor, David Scrimgeour from CDC and Rev Victoria Bravette

A Banbury congregation celebrated the final phase of building on its new church by adding to a time capsule discovered earlier this year.

The new Methodist Church on The Fairway, Banbury, is being constructed as part of Cherwell District Council’s award-winning Build programme.

It occupies part of the old church site which the council is revitalising to include 11 shared ownership houses alongside the church.

While demolishing the previous church earlier this year developers uncovered the capsule, which dates from March 1957.

Its contents, which included newspapers and magazines from the time of the construction of the previous building, have now been updated with tokens of contemporary Banbury life for future generations to find.

Councillor John Donaldson, lead member for housing, met the congregation and helped bury the capsule on Friday, July 8.

He said: “Fairway Methodist Church has played a central role in the life of Ruscote and the surrounding area.”

“The discovery of the time capsule was exciting for the contractors and congregation alike.

“Updating its contents and reburying it is a fitting way to plan for the future while honouring the past.”

The church is due to be completed this summer.