A relationship between the Chinese Church in London and the Hyde United Reformed Church, in Colindale, is to result in a special sharing agreement between the two, writes NEETA DUTTA

It has been described as a meeting between East and West through shared faith and a shared building as the budding Christian Chinese community in Barnet officially unites with a church in Colindale this Saturday.

For the past eight years, a growing Chinese congregation has attended The Hyde United Reformed Church (URC), in Varley Parade, Edgware Road. There are two Sunday services, an English-speaking sermon in the morning, followed by a Malaysian and Cantonese service in the afternoon. About four times a year there is a joint service by the Mrerend Jim Gould, the Malaysian-speaking Pastor James Lau and the Cantonese-speaking Pastor Robert Tang. Special hymn books feature Chinese scripts alongside English text and a host of social events have also helped bring the two communities together.

"In general we have got along quite well together," said Mr Gould. "It has been exciting and challenging."

Now a sharing agreement' will be signed and it is the first time such a bond has been created in the UK. Representatives from the Chinese Church in London (CCiL) will sit on the Board of Elders at the Hyde Church, and play a part in future decision-making regarding expenditure.

Pastor Tang, chairman of the CCiL, which was established in 1951 to accommodate the growing Chinese Christian population in London, said: "In the 1950s there were a lot of Chinese limited by language, who couldn't integrate, so a Chinese minister visiting from China decided we needed a church. We have gone from one congregation to seven."

Speaking of Christianity in China, Pastor Tang explained that there was persecution against those practising the religion by the Communist regime but he was keen to point out that times were changing.

"There is more tolerance now. Under the Communists there was a lot of persecution but that was back then. In the past 15 years there has been a lot more freedom allowed."

He goes on to explain that in China there are two types of church for worshippers. The public church which has the blessing of the government and where sermons must be vetted by a local official and the underground churches, often in homes, which were persecuted in the 1960s.

"It is better but there are still a lot of underground churches," he said. "It is nice to worship freely here, that is important."

It was in 1997 that the Hyde Church was approached by the CCiL with a request to use the premises for their outreach into the Chinese community in north-west London. Two years ago, arrangements began to refurbish the building on a formal, shared basis at a cost of more than £550,000. The CCiL is contributing £300,000 while the URC is aiming to raise £250,000.

While the majority of the Chinese congregations in London have been in England for many years and are well established, there is still a firm preference for Chinese-speaking services.

"It is the cultural element, in religion you communicate using the deepest part of your mind and heart and that usually means worshipping in your mother tongue," said Pastor Tang. Second and third-generation Chinese attend The Hyde Church and there are about 30 young people enrolled in the Sunday school. Pastor Tang is sensitive to the needs of these. "For BBC British-born Chinese it is a transition, they are not entirely Chinese and they more naturally integrate into the general community," he said.

The URC was established in 1860 and moved to its present site, in Colin Close, Colindale, in 1930. By 1956 it had outgrown its old suite of buildings so the church built its current worship area at the Edgware Road end of the site. It became the Hyde URC in 1972.

There is a labyrinth-like quality to the building, with numerous passageways and shortcuts that lead Mr Gould to joke that people are known to get lost.

An air-raid shelter situated to the back of the building is dated to 1942 and will be demolished as part of the plans.

"During the war, people used to run into the shelter and church services would be held inside it," said Mr Gould. "It's all sealed up now and pigeons use it as their home so it is time for a change."

Many of the internal walls are to be knocked through to create space and the church hall, with its old-fashioned wooden floor, will be redecorated by convicted criminals carrying out community service orders.

It is an ambitious project and work is planned for this September with completion aimed for the end of 2007. A community hall is to be constructed which Mr Gould hopes will go some way towards attracting young people to the church. Counselling will also be offered as well as a drop-in refreshment area for members of the community.

"We don't have as many young people here as the Chinese," said Mr Gould. "What we need is more young families, people with children, so hopefully this will encourage them. Our congregation has decreased while the Chinese congregation is increasing."

Mr Gould is enthusiastic about the union and said: "It is a lot of hard work and it's been difficult at times. The majority of people are happy about it but there will always be those who do not like change, but you must move on. It is far better that the church be used, that there be people here than it be empty."

This Saturday will be a half-centenary celebration as well as the official signing of the sharing agreement. The Deputy Mayor of Barnet Councillor Terry Burton and regional church leaders will be at the church from 4pm.