A Brief History
We have been in existence as an independent church since 2005.
Prior to that, the work and witness here at Elstow was overseen by the Bunyan Meeting Church, in Mill Street, Bedford.
The history of the church on this site goes back to 1910, when it was built as Bunyan Memorial Hall.
From 1811, the fellowship had met in the ‘free church’ Bunyan tradition at the Moot Hall on Elstow Green.
Plans in the 1870’s to build a chapel were abandoned because of the difficulty of getting land. However, in the 1890’s, Samuel Whitbread presented the fellowship with a site in Elstow High Street. The foundation stone for the Bunyan Memorial Hall was laid in May 1910 and the new church building was opened on October 27th.
Not much changed until the 1990’s, when the interior was transformed. Gone is all the dark wood and instead we have a bright airy meeting room and a modern coffee bar.
In 2014, a spacious foyer and wheelchair accessible entrance was added, making the building more suitable for the groups that use the church in the 21st century.
Our Ethos – The Congregational Way
In 2005, with the blessing of Bunyan Meeting Mill Street, we became an independent church affiliated to the Congregational Federation, East Midlands Area.
A Congregational Church is a company of believers who have a living faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
We gather together to worship God, share fellowship and serve the local community.
Congregational ethos is that God has called us together, in one place, with the gifts needed to be His body ‘the church in that place’.
We believe in the priesthood of all believers, therefore Church Meeting is a very important commitment for members.
A pastor is called not to a hierarchical position, but as head among equals, here to serve all in the name of Jesus Christ.
We believe in the God who has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Not three gods but one God, united in diversity and we believe that the Bible contains the inspired word of God and it is taken seriously.
We observe the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.