Our History
Borras Park Evangelical Church – was founded by Rev Glyndwr Jenkins after he gave up the joint pastorate of Rossett Presbyterian Church and Bethel, Garden Village. This was a move of conscience in the face of decisions being taken in the 1960s by many of Britain’s denominations to pursue an ecumenical agenda at the expense of Christian teaching grounded on biblical principles. A fellowship was therefore established whose basis of belief was the inerrancy of the Bible as the Word of God.
The first services were held on Sunday 3 January 1971 in the Little Acton Community Centre, Frances Avenue, with an afternoon Sunday School. Regular Wednesday-night prayer meetings began there later that month. This was the church’s temporary home for five years.
Land was bought on Jeffreys Road in October 1972 and plans for a new church and hall were drawn up by county architect and church member, Mr Frank Tucker. The hall was completed in 1976 and the first service took place on Sunday 21 March. The church met in the hall for the next eleven years.
Work began on the main church in 1986 and the building was officially opened on Saturday 21 March 1987. A new kitchen was built at the rear of the Hall in 1997 and in February 2001 internal building work was carried out to provide a dedicated toilet for disabled visitors and baby-changing facilities were added the following year. A lounge was built in 2003 for small informal meetings and to act as a Creche during services.
The church has had five Pastors since it was founded, supported by Elders and Deacons:
- Rev Glyndwr Jenkins: 1971-80, former Presbyterian minister and missionary to India; retired 1980;
- Rev Hywel R. Jones: 1980-85, left to become first Principal of the London Theological Seminary;
- Rev Keith R. Walker: 1985-90, left to work for UCCF (Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship). In 2004 he became a Director of SIM (Serving in Mission);
- Rev Basil A. Howlett: 1993-2000, left to become an assistant pastor in Reading;
- Rev Mark Thomas: 2003-date.