Our History
How Our Church Started
Seeing the need - answering the call
During the summer of 1975 two families from Springfield Park Baptist Church, (an established church in the old part of Springfield), met a number of times and talked about the new developments that were starting to be built to the north of Pump Lane - now known as the Flowers Estate.
After a great deal of talk and prayer the four adults decided that the time was right to bring their deliberations about their concerns for these developments and the lack of facilities: a doctors, shops, and so forth, and not least the lack of a local church, to the then minister at Springfield Park, Rev. Tony Ruddle,
Tony listened, looked at those gathered and said, “Well, are you prepared to do something about it yourselves?” There was no other answer they could give but “YES.” Because the four felt that this was God’s guidance.
Then he [Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:37-38
Praying, Planning and Establishing
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Then began lots more prayer and discussions between the initial four and they took a proposal to the next church meeting that they be sent out from Springfield Park to start a work in North Springfield. The proposal was agreed and on 16th November 1975, at a morning communion service they had commissioning hands laid upon them and were formally sent out. The first service of the new Church plant was held that same evening in the home of one of the pioneering couples, in Ashurst Drive, led by one of the Deacons of Springfield Park Baptist Church.
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The North Springfield Church pioneers contacted all the churches in the greater Springfield area, as well as other local Baptist Churches. Numbers grew steadily and in March 1976, as one of the pioneer families moved to a house with more room, the church moved from Ashurst Drive to Rushleydale, (which as it later happened is very close to the site of the present Church building).
In 1977 the services changed to mornings and a Sunday school was started. It was just before this move took place that the fledgling church was excited to hear of the possibility of land for a church building at nearby Holders Farm. The land owner had recently died, and had bequeathed the remaining farm and home paddock, “for church use”. Could it be that God had prepared in advance what, in due course would be a permanent home for this new Fellowship of Believers?
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During these early months, during meetings at Rushleydale, it was felt that support could be found from the local Baptist Churches and the Essex Baptist Association. This led to the formation of a “Sponsor Group” with representatives of these bodies and the North Springfield Church .
...they [the early church] broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people.
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 24: 6-47
Becoming part of the Community
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New houses began to be built all around, and as they became occupied, members of the Church started visiting as many of the new homes as they could. They took leaflets about the church, details of local doctors, shops, bus routes, phone boxes and as much other local information as they could. Members had visited about 100 homes before they found their first Christian couple, who readily joined them.
As the Fellowship developed and grew they felt that God was leading them towards calling their first minister. Having sought the help of the Baptist Home Mission Fund, they called Rev Crichton Smith. He was inducted at a service in the local Comprehensive School, Boswells, in January 1980.
Crichton settled in well and was soon regularly seen walking around the area, he couldn’t drive because he was partially sighted, but he spoke to all he met and was truly a God given inspiration to us all.
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Holders Farm is ours!
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In about 1980 The Church heard the news that an acre of the bequeathed Holders Farm land was theirs, and plans were drawn up which ultimately led to the construction of the building we have now. How the funds were raised to pay for the building is another story!
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None of all this could have taken place without the firm conviction that we were In God’s hands and doing his will.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
