We might be of an age where it is our turn to care for ageing parents – sometimes meaning a move for us or them. It’s natural to want to help, writes Tim Howlett.
This has been true of two churches – a mother and her daughter – in South Bristol. Philip Street Chapel (PSC), in Bedminster, was formed in the 1860s when hundreds of men worked in the local coal mines. George Müller was being mightily used in his orphanage work. At the time, one PSC member remarked: ‘When Mr Müller preached the chapel always seemed full.’
Fast forward to the 1940s. A few at PSC had noticed that a large number of children in Headley Park (a neighbouring area) were without a Sunday School and decided to rectify that. As a result Crossways Tabernacle, later renamed Headley Park Church (HPC), was planted.
In recent history, PSC enjoyed the faithful ministry of Roger Page. As he was approaching his retirement (Easter 2023), and with his blessing, the members of PSC approached the leadership of HPC to ask whether they would consider sending a team to help them revitalise the work – a mother calling her daughter! HPC had seen significant growth, especially during Covid, and agreed to this ‘Macedonian call’. Most of 2023 was spent planning, getting to know one another and making sure that any gaps created at HPC would be filled when people left.
Two wonderfully moving Sundays followed at the start of this year. January 7 at HPC was a commissioning service for both those staying at HPC and those moving to PSC. The following week was the first Sunday when 28 adults and 11 children from HPC joined the 30 or so already at PSC for their first service altogether. Neil Todman, who was the senior pastor of HPC, now has the same role at PSC.
Bedminster is changing. There is a lot of new housing being built, and the church building is right in the centre. 40,000 people will live within ten minutes’ walk. There is good footfall past the church’s front doors and at the back a new accommodation block for Bristol University is being built. Links are already being made with the community; some new people have started coming and there is a real buzz and excitement about the future.
