Two nearby churches in Coventry amalgamated in late 2018 in an initiative which will help both churches in differing circumstances.
In what is described as ‘an enfolding process’ the small church with diminishing resources was lovingly taken in by a close neighbour church to form one new church in two locations.
Lower Ford Street Baptist Church (LFSBC), which was founded in 1857, had experienced blessing and growth in recent years. The church undertook a major refurbishment in 2014 and holds two morning services in order to accommodate all those who attend. This gives the church the happy problem of often needing more space.
By contrast Hillfields Evangelical Baptist Church (HEBC), after being well-attended, saw a decline which coincided with a change in the character and demographic of its locality. Sited within the red-light district of Coventry, its location has not made it an area to attract Christians to come and join the fellowship. However, the church is in a strategically ideal place for a much-needed gospel witness, particularly among a diverse population of asylum seekers, poor and elderly folk as well as many for whom English is not their first language.
A form of partnership
The return to his native Coventry of Bernard Every gave an outsider’s view on a church of wonderful people, but a church which was tired and discouraged and in need of a major revitalisation. So he went to see the elders at nearby Lower Ford Street to explain Hillfields’ situation and to enquire about the possibility of some form of partnership that would help the Hillfields fellowship in its hour of need. Hillfields by this time had begun an interreg-num, and widespread efforts to recruit a new pastor had proved fruitless. Bernard agreed to be the Moderator of the fellowship and sought further discussions with the Lower Ford Street elders.
Over time, and with complete openness and transparency so that both memberships were fully informed of developments and could take ownership of the decision, all the elders felt the future lay together for the churches. The new church is called Hillfields Church Coventry (HCC).
