Kirkby Stephen Evangelical Church
Loving God and Loving Others
About Us
We are located on the the main street in Kirkby Stephen we moved here from the Gospel Hall at Mellbecks in July 2019.
We are a place for those who want to learn about the Lord Jesus Christ and the Christian Faith. We meet in an atmosphere of Christian Fellowship and Friendship.
We welcome people into our church family, from all walks of life to meet together and share a common faith and learn about the Christian message of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The building was referred to in late 19th century official documents as "The Preaching Room". At some stage it began to be known as the "Gospel Hall'', which it remained as until we moved in 2019, while the church itself was and is known as Kirkby Stephen Evangelical Church.
A Little of our History
We moved to our present church building on Market Street in July 2019 from a church at Mellbecks which dated back to the 1870s. The former Church building known by many as The Gospel Hall was originally two cottages, joined together and converted for congregational use.
The church's origins were in the Christian Brethren, one of several 19th century evangelical movements. While many were abandoning the historic Biblical gospel and "modernising" it, all over the country, Bible-believing Christians came together in small groups around a faith in the Word of God leading to the establishment of new mission halls and chapels.
The church at Mellbecks was one which from its early days was concerned to return as far as possible to a simplicity of church structure and functioning, believing that the New Testament should be our guide for congregational practice as well as for the doctrines of the Gospel. We have continued as an independent evangelical church ever since.
Our People
Members of the church come from a broad cross-section of society. Some have lived and worked in Kirkby Stephen and surrounding areas all or most of their lives whilst others have moved into the area in later life.
Occupational backgrounds vary greatly, as do people's previous church affiliations. In age we range from teens to eighties. A shared love of Jesus Christ brings and holds us all together.
John Heron
Church Elder
John was baptised and joined the church as a teenager he and his wife are involved with many local evangelical organisation including Cumbria Gospel outreach and the Emmaus trust.
Jim McCallum
Church Elder
My parents were Christians and I committed my life to the Lord when I was 12, My teenage years were foundational, I learnt so much from Bible teaching, preaching and remembering the Lord Jesus. I married my wife Jenny in 1996 after my first wife Margaret was called home to the Lord. We ran a residential home for Christians at Southport until we moved to Winton 16 years ago. We have found our spiritual home here and it has been a real joy to be involved in the leadership team.
Paul Clatworthy
Web Editor
I have been a member of the church since I returned to the Lord Jesus in 2019.
I hope you will bear with me as I learn to put this site together.