On 15th November 1965 a small group of Christians, members of Brethren
Assemblies in Liverpool but living in Maghull, met at the Knipe's house to discuss the planting of a
"New Testament Church" nearer their homes. That title was used because it
was felt that they would bring with them the best of their background and leave
behind those things which they thought were perhaps unhelpful.
There followed a Steering Committee; a weekly Prayer meeting in the
garage of a house which also served as Citizens Advice Bureau. The
fellowship itself grew apace. Eventually this growing group of believers
left their home assemblies and on 10th April 1966 began to Break Bread
together in Stan and Elsie Lake's home.
The Maghull Chapel Trust was formed on 2nd May 1966 and 6th November 1966 a
Sunday School was established in Northway Primary School (with 93 children on
the first Sunday). Nearly 3 years later on 2nd March 1969 the first
communion services started in the same location and the first family service was
on 6th April 1969. A year later on 19th April 1970 we began Covenanters
(for 12-19 year olds) and there was a big youth group mainly of sixth formers
who called themselves "Group 4".
There was great hope and faith
and enthusiasm from the beginning. There was a hunt for land that perhaps
greedy builders had missed. A paddock which boasted an old garage and a
donkey was found but the owner was not willing to sell. He was given a name
and address and a telephone number and we prayed. Eventually the owner got
in touch. In 1972 the group bought the land. Christians over a wide area
prayed and gave and loaned money and in 1974 they started to build.
They hired two bricklayers and a labourer and paid them per thousand bricks
they laid. The Lord sent to the Fellowship people with building
qualifications and building skills and some with just muscle. Each
weeknight and all day Saturday, weather and light permitting and with the
exception of prayer meeting night they laboured, often in deep mud, for three
years and three months turning the land into a good modern building with very
pleasing aspect. Finance came in at about the speed they were able to
build. They called the building Maghull Chapel. It has an auditorium
which can be made to seat about 180 persons. At the back there are three large rooms
and a kitchen. It was completed in 1978, allowing us to have our
first Communion Service on 26 March, followed by a full-range of services on 2
April 1978.
Today few have Brethren backgrounds, only about 20 families perhaps, and we
have dropped the Brethren tag (we never started with it anyway).
