The Christian Bookshops Blog

The balloons are out as a crowd gathers for the official opening of CLC Castle Street, Inverness

CONGRATULATIONS are in order to all involved in CLC’s official opening ceremony held on 2nd April 2011 for their new store at 23 Castle Street, Inverness, the former site of Wesley Owen and a sadly short-lived branch of Living Oasis. Colour-coordinated balloons decorated the shop front as a crowd of some 50 people gathered for well-known missionary and author Helen Roseveare to cut the ribbon and declare the shop officially open.

Once inside, Wilf Urquhart — a retired WEC missionary who served in Burkino Faso — addressed the crowd, encouraging those present to support the shop, then a celebration cake was cut by Wilf and Helen, and Helen signed copies of her books.

Wilf Urquhart and Helen Roseveare cut the cake

The opening ceremony was followed by an evening celebration held jointly with WEC at a local church. Around 250 people attended and heard about CLC’s work in the UK and internationally, with Neil Wardrope, CLC’s International Director, as one of the guest speakers.

The smaller Church Street branch is reported to be doing well and will remain open for as long as volunteers are available to run it and whilst there is sufficient demand for it.

• Information and photographs provided courtesy of Phil Burnham, CLC UK National Director. For more details and pictures see CLC Hot News: Official opening of CLC INVERNESS