Humble beginnings
How do churches begin?
The strange answer to that question is that they frequently begin before they are seen. If that foxes you, it is to say that they often begin with people praying that God would raise up a church long before that church actually comes into existence. And so it proved with what is now Brixworth Christian Fellowship.
Years before the fellowship appeared two old ladies were concerned enough about the spiritual witness in the village to begin to pray that God would create a new church that would speak to the village with a clear voice. They did not live to see the answer to their prayers, because the answer was a long time coming, but we believe that the existence of the fellowship now is the result of the vision of these two women in particular. We have subsequently met others who tell us they prayed for such a fellowship in the village many years
The church appeared on the scene unofficially when people began meeting together for informal Bible study before the closure of the Methodist Church, but the closure of that church proved to be the catalyst for something new. A number who usually travelled to attend churches in other towns came together with the intention of forming a new church. The first meeting took place with just 17 members committing themselves to the new work.
It was not long before the fellowship called its first pastor, David Potterton, who now works as General Secretary for the British and International Seamen’s Society. The second and current pastor came from the original founding membership, Phil Walter, who took up the post in 1995.
Initially meeting in the village hall, the fellowship was later involved with the Parish Council in the construction of the Library and Community Centre on Spratton Road, which is where the fellowship met until 2008. During this time numbers grew from the small band to a regular congregation of around 70 people each Sunday morning, prompting thoughts that a move to larger premises was needed to allow for (and encourage) further expansion.
With this in mind, the fellowship moved to Brixworth Primary School in November 2008. Facilities are better for Junior Church and the hall seats us comfortably - we are expecting that to be filled in the course of time!
