'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son'
The Church Government formed
September 14th a membership roll had been established and Pastor Sutton (Bethel Church) was to do the inauguration of new members.
September 23rd, 1958 names were put forward for the appointment of Deacons. Things are really starting to move now. The names of those put forward are as follows: Mr Norton, Mr F Ball, Mr D Westley, Mr H Cashmore, Mr J Punter, Mr P Goodwin, Mr Dickman, Mr Ayres and Mr Mee. It was proposed later that year to appoint Deaconesses. The roll of the Deaconesses was to visit the sick and elderly.
Appointed Deaconesses Miss M Westley and Mrs Hartwell.
It is clear from an entry in the Deacons meeting minutes that those selected for Deacons were Mr David Wesley, Mr Peter Goodwin,
Mr Ayers, Mr Alan Mee, Mr Dickman, Mr Frank Ball, Mr John Punter and Mr Brian Hartland. Deaconesses listed at this meeting were Miss S Holmes (later became Mrs S Mee), Miss M Tredell (later became Mrs M Hartland) and Mrs Marion Punter Nee Marion Wesley.
October 28th the building fund stood at £74:5s:5d (£74.27p)
April 4th 1959 a matter raised at the Deacons meeting on this date in 1959 was that of a twelve year old boy who had applied for membership of the church. As this was such a young age a lengthy discussion took place resulting in this young man being allowed into membership under supervision.
Building fund now stood at £89 25p, September 23rd building fund £90.45p,
December 3rd building fund £103.70p, only £1,417 58p to reach purchase price, we are on our way.
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George Humphries took on the roll of honorary Pastor.
We have a Pastor, 1960?
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On March 4th, 1960 Pastor Sutton (Bethel Church) suggested that as the work had become more like a Church and a definite fellowship had been formed with Deacons and a register of Church members that the roll of president should be retired. This was agreed and Mr George Humphries was asked to accept the roll of Honorary Pastor which he duly accepted. In later years Mr Humphries became the Church Elder. Whether Mr Humphries can be described as the church’s first Pastor is debatable as this was just an honorary roll. The first official Pastor that we have evidence of was Brian Davis
Name change imminent, or not?
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April 8th The debate begins to change the name of the Church as it had been operating under the name Braunstone United Christian Fellowship for Youth. A name change was suggested by Mr David Wesley one of the Deacons, but it was generally agreed that the name should remain the same and further discussion could take place when the Church had its own building.
So the name did remain the same. This clears up an earlier point about the name of the work as the name Braunstone United Fellowship for Youth seemed to disappear from the meeting minutes. Ah well let's remain united and youthfully go forward into the battle field.
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Order them bricks
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Determined to have ones own premises Mr George Humphries reported that there was a vacant plot of land behind the
Cort Crescent Community centre and that he had applied to Leicester City planning office for permission to purchase this land for the church building. He had received a reply stating that the land would be measured. I assume this was to be able to give a valuation price.
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Things were beginning to hot up and it wasn't just the weather (July 1st,1960) “an application to build a church was going before the Leicester City planning committee” said Mr Humphries, even though at this stage the land had not been purchased. A decision from the planning committee would be needed before a purchase could go ahead. The estates department had given measurements of the land and this was 3,100 sq. yards with an estimated price of £3000. As far as we are aware the final price for the land was £1630.00. Pastor Sutton (Bethel Church) suggested that some of this land if finally purchased should be reserved for a manse. No manse was ever built on the church land until 2004 which was in the time of our present Pastor Peter Allen who originally lived in a caravan on the land until the manse was built.
The Manse, built in 2004
It’s time to bring our man in
It was decided that Mr Ken Terhoven should be approached with a view to becoming Pastor of the church. Mr Terhoven was due to return from the mission field and all agreed he would be an excellent choice.
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We have nearly got it
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August 25th the land for building the church was at the final purchase stage. Planning permission had been granted, just waiting for the estates committee to give the go ahead. A new estimated value for the land had been received and this was between £1,500 and £1,800. It was agreed that the manse should be located on the right of the land as viewed from Didsbury Street. The manse should consist of a building frontage on Didsbury Street, a garage to the rear of the house and the land behind for a garden. This is exactly where the present day manse is located although built much later. At this time it was decided to set up trustees and a special prayer meeting was to be arranged in regard to this.
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Mr Ken Terhoven had received the request to become Pastor and felt very honoured that he had been considered for the position. But he felt it was a matter that he needed to pray about, and he would decide later whether he felt led to the Pastorate or not.
Get your vocals in tune
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It was decided that new hymn books should be purchased and there was a grand selection available but the final decision went the way of the Redemption hymn books (the red book). These were priced at 6s:6d (32p1/2p). Hard back covers.
1st November 1960 building fund £167.55p
It was decided at the Deacons meeting November 1960 that they would purchase six copies of Golden Bells hymn books as well as six copies of Redemption hymn books. These were to be used for evening fellowship after the evening service referred to as after church rally. I know in the 70s they used to go onto the Braunstone estate in the afternoon and sometimes in the evening and have open air meetings. Two of the popular sites for this were the greens on Benbow Rise and Gallards Hill, both greens now covered with buildings (Benbow Rise, Braunstone Oak Centre, Play Park and Gallards Hill, Braunstone New deal and Sure Start centre)
Golden Bells. Another publisher within the independent Free Church fellowship was Scripture Union and Children’s Special Service Mission (SU/CSSM). In 1964 they published Hymns of Faith containing 659 hymns. This was a logical follow-on from the original Golden Bells through the Golden Hymnal of previous years.
The first edition (1925) of "Golden Bells" was issued, the special purpose of this book having put "the songs of Zion" onto the lips of boys and girls.
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Back to bricks and mortar
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At a meeting in November 1960 Mr George Humphries showed the Diaconate a plan for the new church which had been drawn up by Mr Bill Wigston. The plan was like that of St Luke’s on the Stocking Farm estate in Leicester (C of E).
Mr Hartland suggested that the church part of the building should have a higher roof to make it the most dominant part of the building. The Diaconate agreed with this and Mr Wesley was to return the plan to Mr Wigston for alterations.
Mr Ken Terhoven had responded to the request of becoming Pastor and said he was still praying about this matter but at the moment he was working with Youth for Christ and had no definite leading towards this position. He was also considering six other offers. He also said that he wouldn’t be offended if the post were offered to someone local.
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Good news
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Great news. At a Deacons meeting December 31st, 1960
Mr George Humphries reported that the Estates committee had been in touch and the purchase of the land for church building could now go ahead as they had passed the application. Full steam ahead then? Mr Fountain of the Estates Department insisted that the building plans be shown to him first and that they must be approved by him before any sale of land could go ahead.
The plans would also have to go before the City Council. The Town clerk would then contact Mr Humphries to arrange the conveyance of the land. Plans need to be drawn up and be to the scale 2/8 inch. Mr Bill Wigston was willing to meet with
Mr Fountain and show him a sketched plan he had drawn up.
A sub committee was formed to deal with the plans of church building. Mr Wigston, Mr D Wesley and Mr Hartland were named as the sub committee members.
Trustees of the church was now a matter of urgent prayer.
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1961
January the 8th 1961 It was suggested that three important issues become a matter of prayer, Pastor, Church name change and land. It appears there may have been a new name suggested for the church but could not be implemented at this date because of the plans being submitted to the Council planning office. A name change may have interrupted the purchase of the land as the original application would have had the name Braunstone United Christian Fellowship for Youth.
1961 Tottenham Hotspur won the FA Cup completing the league and cup double. The Beatles performed for the first time at the Cavern Club.
February 2nd 1961 But best of all in Braunstone, Leicester We have a Church building! well nearly, its cardboard! A cardboard model of the building was shown to the Diaconate by Mr Wigston so that they knew what the building would look like when built.
Building Fund stood at £173. 25p
Mr Wesley had contacted Me Ken Terhoven about an answer to becoming Pastor. Mr Terhoven said he had no definite leading from the Lord as to this position and on those grounds had to decline the offer. He further said that if he felt led in the future to take up the position of Pastor, he would inform the church. Mr Humphries suggested that he contact Mr Brian Baston of the Wycliffe society and Mr Peter Seal with a view to one of them taking up the position of Pastor.
Trustees
A letter to finalise the sale of land was now in the hands of the church and this made the appointment of trustees an urgent matter of prayer.
It was felt that trustees should be local people who could be contacted easily. Mr Humphries had contacted some people whom he hoped would be interested and they all agreed to pray about the matter. Names of those that Mr Humphries had contacted are mentioned for the first time at this meeting.
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Names of those contacted at this point to become trustees, Mr Frank Osborn, Miss Church, Mr Gray and Mr Frank Papperill.
A building sub committee was formed and the members of this committee were: Mr Bill Wigston, Mr David Wesley and
Mr Brian Hartland.
Nearly everything was in place now for the purchase of the land. The cardboard model built by Mr Bill Wigston had been presented to the membership so that they could see what the final building would look like. One very humorous comment was added by one member who said “all we need now is the money.” Plans were then drawn up by Mr Wigston for submission to the Town clerk. Comment by sub committee "The Lord is able to supply." Jeremiah 29:11 for I know the purposes which I am purposing for you, says Jehovah; purposes of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.
At this point Mr Peter Thornton an architect was elected onto the building subcommittee at the request of Mr Bill Wigston as he was prepared to help out in any way he could.