After 136 years on Acton Lane — through two world wars, an arson, and the steady working of London weather on Victorian brick — this church is still gathering, still worshipping, still serving its community. But standing means standing on a roof that lets in the rain, and the time to act on that is now.
🎼 136th Anniversary & Roof Fundraising Concert
An evening of praise and worship, with contributions from groups within and beyond the church family. Every pound given on the night goes directly to the roof restoration appeal.
Two appeals are open right now: an urgent one to put a watertight roof over the worship space, and an ongoing one to keep the mini-van on the road that brings our seniors to church every Sunday. Both are described below. Please prayerfully consider whether God is asking you to play a part in either or both.
🏛️Restoring Our Roof — the Urgent Appeal
When it rains, water comes through. Sections of the basement beneath the sanctuary have become persistently damp. Without timely intervention, what is presently a roofing problem becomes a structural one — and Victorian stonework, once damaged by water, is not cheap to repair.
The roof of this church has been the largest single ongoing expense of the building since it was opened on 26 June 1890. Over the years more than £90,000 has been spent on it — in repointing, releading, patches, and the painstaking attention any 136-year-old Gothic roof line demands. Each generation of the church has carried its share. This is ours.
The £17,500 we are raising now is not a wish-list figure. It is what the current phase of work has been quoted at: the repair of the section where water is presently breaking through, and the drying-out and waterproofing of the basement walls below. Every contribution, however small, brings us closer to it.
Roof Appeal”.
How you can help the roof appeal
Come to the concert. Saturday 4 July 2026, 6:30 pm. Bring family, friends, and neighbours. Refreshments are served.
Give towards the £17,500. Any amount — from £5 to £5,000 — brings us closer. Use the reference Roof Appeal so we can track it against the target.
If you pay UK Income Tax, please complete a Gift Aid declaration. We recover 25p from HMRC for every £1 you give at no cost to you.
See ways to give →🚐The HBC Mini-Van — the Ongoing Appeal
Before the rest of us have left our homes on a Sunday morning, a small team of volunteer drivers and support helpers is already on the road. Their job is to call at the home of each elderly or physically-challenged member, help them out to the van, bring them safely to the church for the service, and afterwards drive them home again. Where the van cannot reach — or when the demand for a Sunday is greater than one vehicle can serve — visiting friends of the church often step in with their own cars to make sure no one is left behind.
The van is also called on for some of our church outings — trips, away-days, and occasions where members who could not otherwise travel get to join in the fellowship.
The volunteers ask for no payment. They give their Sunday mornings freely. All they need is a van that stays safe, taxed, insured, fuelled and roadworthy.
How you can help the mini-van ministry
A one-off gift towards a year of running costs — servicing, fuel, MOT, tax, insurance.
A regular small standing order earmarked Mini-Van. Five pounds a month, given by enough people, keeps it on the road.
Volunteer. Drivers with a clean licence are always welcome, as are support helpers who ride along and assist passengers on and off the van. Speak to the Pastor or any of the Diaconate.
See ways to give →Designating your gift
If you would like your gift to go specifically to one of these appeals rather than to the general fund, please mark the payment clearly with the relevant reference:
- For the roof, use the reference
Roof Appeal - For the mini-van, use the reference
Mini-Van - For our general work, no reference is needed
Larger gifts, partnership pledges over several years, or bequests in a will may be discussed in confidence with the Pastor or any member of the Diaconate. Full bank account details and online giving instructions are on our How to Give page.
Whether or not you are able to give to these appeals, please pray for them — for the roofers and tradespeople working on the building, for the volunteer drivers serving our seniors, and for this church as it stewards the resources placed in its care.
Thank you, on behalf of the church family, for whatever you are able to do.
Harlesden Baptist Church, 27 Acton Lane, London NW10 8UX. Charity giving handled in accordance with HMRC Gift Aid rules. For any question about an appeal or a gift, please contact the Pastor or the Church Secretary.