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The Rock Church
Centre, A Brief History |
1960's The Rock Church Centre can be traced back to Queens Road Presbyterian Church which closed in the 1960's. The church was pulled down along with a large area around it. However a decision was made to keep the youth club running under the leadership of Sid Graham from Rankin Presbyterian Church at Norris Green. After a nomadic existence for a couple of years the club found a more permanent home in the by then closed Breckfield Inn on Barnes street. Under Sid's guidance the club members converted the building into youth club complete with a chapel. Sid did not work alone, many others helped to keep the club going and special mention should be made of Revd Ella Gordon who not only worked hard behind the scenes to secure the continuation of the club but ran impromptu Bible studies in the pubs of the area.
1970 Eventually like a phoenix rising out of the ashes the idea for a new church came into being. A minister, John Johansen-berg, was called and work started on a site on the corner of Whitefield Road and Boundary lane opposite the Strawberry Tavern, 250 yards from the Breckfield Inn. The building was to be a youth and community centre as well as a church.
July 1972 saw the opening of The Rock Church Centre, the last church to be opened by the Presbyterian Church of England before the union with the Congregational Church to form the United Reformed Church. Slowly under the guidance of John the work was developed to include playgroups, youth clubs and activities for pensioners.
1977
John and Joan left for Ealing, London and was succeeded in
1978 by the
Rev Dave Cave, who came from Holme
Church Bradford. Under Dave's leadership the church experienced much growth, particularly
in the area of youth and children’s work. However changes in City Council policy led
to a withdrawal of the grant to pay youth workers thus leaving the work in jeopardy.
1986 Dave left to set up the Anfield Road Fellowship and he was succeeded in
1987 by the
Revs Ron and Barbara Gates from
Wallasey. Ron and Barbara continued the work bringing with them a particular emphasis on
work with older people. During this period the youth club which had been slowly running
down finally ceased to exist.
1992 saw Ron and Barbara retire to Lutterworth and our present minister, Rev Ian Ring came from Sheffield. Later that year the youth club was restarted but sadly it had to close in 1995 due to the behaviour of the young people.
1994 saw the introduction of monthly evening worship and in 1996 this increased to fortnightly, returning to monthly in 1999.
1996 We ran our first Alpha course and started Children's Church as an experiment.
1997 we became a link house of the Community for Reconciliation and we joined the Evangelical Alliance.
1998 saw the relaunch of Children's Church which now has eight children on the books. After many years of negotiation and fund raising we were able to replace the Sports Barn roof during the summer. After many years of decline congregations started to grow again in 1998 and this trend has continued right through into 2000.
2000 We have refurbished the kitchen and are currently raising money to refurbish the worship area. The next project will be the renewal of the showers and the toilets.
Ministers of The Rock Church Centre
1970-1977 Rev John Johansen-berg
1972-1975 Rev Joan Johansen-berg
1978-1983 Rev Dave Cave
1985-1992 Rev Ron & Rev Barbara Gates
1992- Rev Ian Ring