A Brief History of Hambleton Evangelical Church
In January 1969, a group of four young couples started meeting together for Bible study and prayer in a home in Topcliffe. One of their number, Rev. J. Malcolm Peters, was invited to lead them as their Minister and, with a number of children at the Sunday services, the front room of Hall Farm was often full to bursting.
In 1976 they bought the building in Carlton Miniott, home of the church today. Soon afterwards the Good News Club for primary children was started, and other regular meetings followed.
As the church grew, an elder and deacons were appointed to support Malcolm in the teaching and administration of the church. The building was extended to the front and rear, providing a second meeting room, an entrance hall, and kitchen and toilet facilities.
With Malcolm Peters approaching the age of retirement, in May 2002 Rev. Dr Jonathan Bayes became our second Minister. He continued the work of regular preaching and teaching from the Bible, and our present elders, Steve Harding and Geraint Davies, were appointed to assist him in the work.
From our earliest days as a church we have taken a keen interest in missionary work, and this was further stimulated by Jonathan Bayes’ involvement with the training of pastors overseas. Over the course of several years, Jonathan made a number of visits to the city of Iloilo in the Philippines, and in November 2007 he taught in a second country in the Far East.
Early in 2007, Jonathan was invited by Carey Outreach Ministries to work full-time in training young pastors in the developing world. After much thought and discussion, the church agreed to release him, and Jonathan preached his last sermon as our Minister on 31 December 2007.
In September 2012, Rev. Richard Wigham moved, with his wife Pam, from being pastor of a church in Llantrisant, Wales, to become our third Minister.
Celebrating 50 Years
In January 2019 our church celebrated its 50th Anniversary.
On the first weekend of 2019, members and friends of Hambleton Evangelical Church, near Thirsk, met to give thanks to God for his faithfulness over the fifty years since the church was founded. A list was compiled of fifty things for which to feel gratitude.
The Saturday afternoon saw a time of recollection. A display around the church illustrated various activities which had occurred since the church’s founding. This was followed by a time of informal fellowship and a buffet.
An illustrated talk by Malcolm Peters followed. Malcolm was the first pastor and spoke of its founding. Three couples with young families had covenanted together to form a church and asked Malcolm to be their pastor. Taking this step involved personal sacrifice, but they stepped out in faith. The three surviving founder members were able to be present and remain an encouragement to us all.
Initially, the church met at Hall Farm, Topcliffe. The Lord blessed it with growth and in 1976 they were able to purchase the present building in Carlton Miniott.
Malcolm retired in 2002 and was followed by Jonathan Bayes. Jonathan later stood down to work with Carey International, and the present pastor, Richard Wigham, was called in 2012.
Saturday 5 January was the anniversary of the first services held. The Sunday was, therefore, the first of the 51st year and we began with the Lord’s Supper, after which Malcolm preached at both services.
How good it was to be able to look back, but also to look forward in confidence to the future, encouraged by the words we took as our motto text: ‘The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’ (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Richard Wigham
