We are a group of Christians from all walks of life, simply meeting together to share a common faith in Jesus Christ
We have been ever-present in Nechells, Birmingham for some time, and today we are carrying on the work started by local and dedicated Christians many years ago.
The church was founded in 1871, and began in Great Brook Street, Vauxhall. Not far from where we are now.
From the small beginnings of just eight members, the church grew, and 15 years later, the membership had grown to 142, with most of the members living and working in the community in various capacities.
In 1969, the old building was demolished, and a new church was built adjacent to the original site. This is where you will find us today in Great Francis Street.
Our membership has ebbed and flowed over the last 150+ years, but throughout, we have been constant, in serving this community in a variety of ways.
What do we believe and practice?
- We believe that everyone needs to come to faith in Jesus Christ and to make a fresh start in their lives. This new beginning is marked by being baptised into Christ as a believer in Him.
- We celebrate the Lord’s Supper (Communion) every Sunday in our worship service
- We strive to achieve Christian unity, on the basis of the New Testament teachings
- We desire to see men and women accepting Jesus Christ as Lord, believing that He holds the answer to the problems of this world
As a Church of Christ in Great Britain, we are members of the Fellowship of Churches of Christ, whose purpose is to enable churches to co-operate in the spreading of the ‘Good news of Jesus Christ’.
History of Churches of Christ in Great Britain
The Churches of Christ are a group of autonomous congregations using the name ‘Church of Christ’. Our doctrine and practice, has an emphasis on the Bible alone, in order to restore following New Testament teachings, which we believe to have been established by Jesus.=
In the early 1800s, a number of churches in Scotland, were influenced by the writings and work of Alexander Campbell in the States, and his revivalist work. These churches included the Scottish Baptists and other small denominations.
As a result, a number of churches in Great Britain who had been worshipping and following these practices, held the first meeting of Churches of Christ in Great Britain in Edinburgh, in 1842.
In 1870, the name ‘Churches of Christ’ was formally adopted at the annual meeting
The movement soon grew to 80 congregations, but after WW1, church memberships declined, and in 1980, the Association of Churches of Christ in Britain was disbanded.
Most of the Association congregations (around 40) joined with the United Reformed Church in 1981
24 other congregations (including ourselves) formed a Fellowship of Churches of Christ at an annual conference, held at our church, Great Francis Street.
The Fellowship developed ties with other Christian churches and Churches of Christ during the 1980s and continues to do so to this day. It has been instrumental in supporting churches and in church planting.
We are part of the Fellowship of Churches of Christ
