Special Projects

Support the Haggai Project:
Preserving Our Historic Church

Dear Church Family and Friends,
We are reaching out to you with an important and urgent request for support. As many of you know, the New Testament Church of God – Sheffield, is a vital part of our community. But did you know that this church, originally known as Holy Trinity Wicker Church, has stood as a beacon of faith since 1847. Consecrated by the Archbishop of York in 1848, our beloved church is a Grade II Listed Building with a rich history.
The church building, which has been a place of worship for nearly 180 years, was originally the Holy Trinity Wicker Church. After its closure in 1948, the building found new life in 1975 when it was rented by New Testament of God members from Sheffield, who later purchased the building in October 1991.
As a place of worship and community activity, NTCG Sheffield is a vital part of the local landscape. It is used extensively for weekly religious services, very many community funerals, weddings, and a wide range of community functions and youth activities. It serves as an inclusive and welcoming space for people of all ages, backgrounds, and faiths, offering essential support and social interaction within the local community. Our church is also a regular feature during the annual Sheffield Heritage Open Days.
The building is one of Sheffield’s most beloved landmarks, with its intricate stonework and historical design reflecting the craftsmanship of the late Victorian era. However, due to its age and the natural wear and tear of the elements, the church’s exterior has begun to show signs of deterioration, especially in the pointing of its stone walls. Without intervention, this deterioration could lead to more significant structural issues that may compromise the building’s long-term safety and accessibility.

Repointing the church will not only protect the integrity of this historic building but will also ensure that it remains a functional and safe space for worship and community activities. The proposed work will contribute to preserving the church’s architectural heritage while ensuring it continues to meet the needs of the congregation and the wider community.
The value of this building extends far beyond its bricks and mortar; it is a central hub for the local community. By supporting us in this fundraising project you will be supporting a vital resource that serves thousands of individuals each year.
That is why we are launching **The Haggai Project**, a fundraising initiative to raise the funds necessary for the repair and restoration of this historic building. We invite you, our church family and the wider community, to contribute generously to this worthy cause. The need is urgent, but with your help, we can ensure that the New Testament Church of God remains a strong and vibrant place of worship for generations to come.
The Haggai Project is named after the biblical prophet Haggai, who encouraged the people of Israel to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, reminding them of the importance of maintaining a sacred space. Just as Haggai called the people to act, we now call upon you to play your part in preserving this historic church. Together, we can repair, restore, and renew the foundation of our community, ensuring that it remains a centre for faith and service for many years to come.
To contribute to the Haggai Project, we have set up two simple ways to give:

**Online Donations**: You can donate online through the church’s bank account: NTCG SHEFFIELD, Account Number: 70660906, Sort Code: 20-76-97. Please ensure that your donation is marked with the reference **‘Project Haggai’** so that it can be allocated correctly to the fundraising project.
**Envelope Donations**: If you prefer to contribute in-person, you can use the white envelopes provided at our church. Simply write **‘Project Haggai’** on the envelope to designate your gift.

**All donations from church members should be submitted by Sunday, October 5th, 2025**. Online donations will be accepted until the end of the year, giving everyone ample time to contribute.
As a community, we have always come together in times of need and now is no different. Whether large or small, every donation makes a difference. We trust that with your support, we can achieve the funds needed to complete these essential repairs and preserve our building for future generations.
We are confident that through the collective generosity of our church family and friends, The Haggai Project will be a success. Thank you for your continued commitment to our church, and for being part of this important chapter in our history.

With gratitude,
Bishop Winston Taylor: The New Testament Church of God – Sheffield

Haggai Project Questionnaire Responses

“Vision of Charity” began November 1995 as God revealed in a vision to Sis Pauline Evans how and what she should do, along with Sis Pat Myrie.

We carried out sponsored walks and sponsored swimming and baked and sold at church functions. We applied to large chain shoe shops, sweet & nappy factories, places which sold medical instruments, schools and central libraries who gave us books which were no longer needed. We also received a duplicating machine.

These items were shipped out to Black Rock Primary School, Portland, Jamaica. As a result of this, they were able to build a library, which was officially opened by various dignitaries.

Each year, we send barrels containing new and nearly-new clothes, shoes, sweets, exercise books, pens, pencils, rulers, erasers, to Black Rock School. In addition to these items, medical instruments, nurses fob watches, all engraved with hospital details are sent to Black Rock hospital. Clothes and toys were also sent to the mother and baby home, clothes to the Poor House in Black Rock.
These are the establishments we sponsor.

We also raise funds by selling donated items at car boot fairs. The work has sometimes been arduous as we had to get up early and be at the car boot area for 5am. By this time Sis Hutton Rose a senior member of the church joined us and Charlene Chattoo (Pauline’s daughter with special needs).

Each time we wanted to wrap up, people continued to donate to the point where the Charity has grown/expanded in different ways. Such as our sponsoring of a mother in Jamaica who had her legs amputated due to diabetes. She has sadly passed away, but we continue to help her daughter until she reaches 18 years of age; each Bank Holiday we sent money to support her.

We sponsored a pastor’s son through school, providing a computer for him. He is now working. We provided fans, drums and instruments to the church in Portland. In 2019 Pauline took barrels out to Black Rock school, mother and baby home and blood pressure monitors for the hospital.
The vision of the charity will always continue.

PAULINE EVANS

PAT MYRIE

PAT MYRIE

MARLON CHATTOO

PAULINE EVANS

CHARLENE CHATTOO

In 2015 the “Envision” project began from a vision God gave Pauline to rebuild the walls of the church (Nehemiah 3).

The church is a listed building and the gates and railings had been removed during the war. After reading this scripture, we began to look at the outside and noticed that the boundary walls needed repointing. We then took a closer look inside the church and saw the condition and realised it required refurbishing. We arranged a church meeting and informed the members of our findings and that we would be fundraising for this mission; each Sunday we collected a separate offering, which went towards the fundraising, and we originally had 6 members who pledged money each month.

Over the past 38 years, on a Wednesday evening, we have held prayer meetings at Pauline’s home, and this was where God would instruct us on the steps we needed to take during this refurbishment.

We received £6,000 towards new carpets from a private donor, which enabled us to finish the work totally, as that was the amount, we required to complete everything. Support for the charity has come in various ways. For example, Pat who works at a Housing Association, has been supported by her colleagues who have donated various items to the charity. We take good quality used clothes, handbags and shoes to a place which weighs and buys them. The silk flower displays throughout the church were supplied for free by a work colleague.

When tenants leave houses with furniture and other items, the Housing Association allows Pat to recycle them. We then sell furniture through auctions and there are no fees to pay as the church is a charity. Smaller items are taken to car boot.

As the refurbishment work on the church continued, God sent along contractors who donated their services and goods for free, they said they couldn’t take pay for working in God’s house.

Some days, some of us would work at the church from 7am to midnight. Family members would come to help after they had finished work and Pauline would always provide food. A young man within the church offered his services as a builder for free. As we pushed towards completing the refurbishment, we used our own money for the decorations, updating door furniture and buying pictures for the newly created Lord Supper Room.

A friend’s mother died, and she allowed us to sell the furniture at the auction. Items that did not sell at auction we gave to people in need, the rest we gave to charity shops. We have just had the external boundary walls repointed. Once God’s favour is upon you, you only have to ask people and they are willing to help.

To date, we have raised £ 13,700.00 towards the new railings and gates, so we have a lot of hard work ahead, but it will be completed.

This year we are looking at setting up the youth club at the Family Life Centre. Radio Hallam have donated sport equipment, the Housing Association donated first generation iPads, and HSBC have donated 10 desktops computers.

Radio Hallam at Christmas time provide toys for families in projects and temporary homeless projects from new-born to 18yrs old who need help. This has been an initiative which Pat’s Housing Association has taken on board over several years.

When the church first opened the soup kitchen, food was donated to the temporary homeless projects of the Housing Association at Christmas time. We filled empty copier boxes wrapped in Christmas paper and gave them to the families.

We also take part in English Heritage Open day in September. This is where the Church – as a listed building – opens its doors to the community, to walk round and look at the historical memorials and ask questions. This helps to put us out there and we can take up donations on the day. It’s a free event!

Last year, a couple of visitors came into the church, and they shed tears and said there was something in the church which caused them to cry. God’s presence of course.

Since we started the refurbishment, we have encountered a lot of external contacts and acquaintances who have now become friends.

The team continue to be grateful to all who have supported this project. Thank you.