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The history of Poynton Baptist Church
Poynton Baptist Church was officially founded on 28th September 1862, however, a Baptist Meeting started after missions to Poynton in a rented saddle room in 1860 in London Road South. On the 25th May, 1866 a site of two hundred and six square yards were purchased for fifteen pounds where a new chapel was built on the present site in Park Lane. The original building was rectangular in shape, approximately thirty-five feet by twenty-six feet, plus the entrance vestibule. The Church occupied the upper floor with the Schoolroom beneath. The kitchen, vestry and heightened roof was added later in the Spring of 1867.
Original stone now in the new building
George Walker from Cheadle Hulme Baptist Church was a leading figure in the establishment of Poynton Baptist Church. See "Abundant Harvest" for more information on this earlier period.
George Walker
First Honorary Pastor
1862-1903
In 1875 the Baptist Church was fitted with gas heating at a cost of £300, which was supplied by the newly built Poynton village gasworks.
Rev. John Lister, who was
the
Pastor at
Rev. John Lister
Pastor
1905-1935
The first public supplies of electricity in Poynton were available in 1931, when the Baptist Church was wired for electric lighting. Between 1936 and 1939 Rev Gareth Owen was Minister, at the same time as looking after Disley Baptist Church.
Assembling outside the chapel in the 1926
1946 Rev Froud became the Pastor on a part time basis and preached alternate Sundays. He was very concerned for young people, and so by 1949 a weekly meeting was running. However, Rev Froud moved to a full time appointment in Macclesfield.
'Walking Day' Clumber Road, July 1949
This was followed by a time of struggling without minister, shortage of Sunday School teachers and urgent building repairs required.
A church outing approximately 1949
The centenary was held on the 11th September 1962 and consisted of a morning service, children's afternoon service, followed by evening communion.
Between
1963 and 1967, the church was in a period of decline, with
a small number attending
a Bible Study, held in the vestry on Sunday mornings and about at
dozen attendees at the evening
service. During
this time the Church was greatly indebted to the Greater Manchester
Association of Baptist Churches who regulary supplied lay preachers to
lead the evening service.
In
Late 1966/early 1967 the row of cottages immediately next door to the
church were acquired by a development company to be demolished to make way
for a supermarket. The
development company also made approaches to the church with regard to the
purchase of its building in
order to incorporate the land into their proposed development.
The
regular members and attenders of the church met together each Thursday
evening for prayer and at this time they earnestly sought the Lord’s
guidance for the future of the church, asking that he might provide a
leader for the church if it was to continue.
During
this time David Pringle, a
Lecturer in Education in
David Pringle
Pastor
1967-1977
At
the time the Church began to pray specifically for a leader, David was
seeking God’s guidance for his future ministry and heard God’s voice
clearly directing him to Poynton
The chapel interior
By
the year 1969 it was very clear that the chapel building was inadequate
for the numbers of attenders and the four times larger Sunday school, so a
building fund was started. During
the year a Youth Coffee Bar opened on Friday nights and there were 10 more
baptisms in this year, with growth in the Thursday night meetings for
prayer and Bible study.
The chapel 1970
After
a great deal of unsuccessful searching for a site for a new church
building, a Christian Architect was approached to give advice about the
size of building which could be erected on the site of the chapel.
The church also owned a sizeable plot of unused land to the rear of
the old chapel building, and the rough plans were evidence of God’s
desire for the church to stay on the same site.
The plans were obliged to include 5 parking spaces!
The new building was to cost £33,000 and a decision was taken by the Church Meeting that the building should be paid for by the people of God and the general public should not be asked for donations. In April 1971, with £300 in the Building Fund the church gave instructions to the Architect to proceed with the building project. The building was to be built in two halves, the first part was to be built on the land at the rear of the chapel, allowing worship to continue in the old chapel building. However in August 1971 building started with the demolition of the greater part of the kitchen and vestry, to allow access to the rear of the site.
Chapel demolition started
By
commencement of building in September 1971 loans had been secured from the
Lancashire & Cheshire Association of Baptist Churches and the
On
Foundation stone laid 1971
By amazing fund raising of gifts and loans the sum of £33,000 had already been provided while the old church was demolished on the same site.
Artistic plans
The building was officially opened on 8th July 1972, and offered many new features of flexible worship area, kitchen, lounge, six classrooms and sound system room, but the useful old basement coffee bar was lost to the new foundations.
The new building opening in 1972
During
the Autumn of 1971 the church had been asked by the Trustees of
Bramhall Baptist Church to take over the leading of the church.
They had their own small church building known as “Lamb Chapel” on
It
was agreed that
In
1974, two years after the completion of the new building at Poynton, the
local authority allowed us to extend the building over the car parking
area, enable us to extend the ground floor to accommodate a Bookshop and a
meeting room, and also to extend the Sunday School accommodation on the
first floor. This project cost
a further £7000.
In
the Spring of 1976 the church meeting agreed that the time had come to
employ a full-time Assistant Pastor and that David would take a 12 month
sabbatical. Andrew Rigden-Green
was the first full-time paid Pastor to be
appointed to the church. Andrew
was a single man at the time his ministry commenced in September 1976 and
the church needed to provide accommodation for him.
Fundraising within the fellowship commenced once again, and a small
semi-detached house was bought in
The
generous giving or the congregation during the period 1972-1978 enabled the
loans for the three projects totaling some £50,000 to be
repaid 12 months prior to the target date originally set.
In
May 1977 the church suffered a tremendous loss with the sudden death of
David Pringle, who left his equally committed wife Anne, and three
children aged 17, 16 and 13. The
church was filled to overflowing for the funeral service. A scholarship fund was set up at
Clement
Fennell and Andrew Green became Associate Pastors until 1980 when Andrew
left to spend 3 years in ministerial training at
Andrew Green induction 16th October 1976
During
the 1970s the church assisted in the setting up or reviving of a number of
local fellowships, including Sunday School work at Colshaw Estate in
Wilmslow, the reviving of Bramhall Baptist church, support for Disley
Baptist church, help and advice in setting up Davenport Baptist church and
Lostock Christian Fellowship on the Bird Estate in Poynton, and support to
Larkhill Baptist Church, Adswood.
Saturday
Café started in the old chapel in 1970 and continued successfully in the
new building and to this day.
The
Mum’s & Toddler Group ‘Playaway started in 1977 and has been very
successful, bringing many new people into the church.
Roger Martin induction 3rd January 1981
The
small Manse at
Billy Mongomery induction 6th Oct 1984
He was joined from 1984 - 1987 by Rev. Billy Montgomery and from
1987 – 1992 by Rev. David Graham, both as Assistant Pastors.
David Graham induction 6th September 1987
During
Roger’s ministry a brand new church was planted in Hazel Grove and about
40 people moved to establish a congregation there.
In October 1992
Hazel Grove Baptist Church
Billy Mongomery went on to become Senior Minister at Hazel Grove Baptist Church, after spending a number of years in the south of England.
*****
In
October 1992 Rob White came to Poynton Baptist
Church as Senior Minister, with his wife Marion. This
followed 10 years as
UK
Director for Youth for Christ
and extensive involvement as a Spring Harvest Leader.
Rob White induction 3rd October 1992
Rob was Senior Minister of PBC for over 11 years, until May 2004. He is now fulfilling a wider ministry with Mainstream, giving input to leaders, leadership teams & churches, much of which is shared with Marion, and also giving time to an emerging network of churches & organisations in Greater Manchester.
Rob and Marion
Rob
and Marion have been involved in Spring Harvest speaking & leadership
for 25 years (can't be true!) and Marion is a Trustee and on the Council
of Management. Marion speaks at various events around the UK.
Rob keeps his interest in young people by being a Trustee of The Message
Trust (which works amongst young people primarily in Greater Manchester)
and further musical interest as Chairman of the Wellspring Arts Trust, of
which Marion is also a Trustee. He is also on the Mainstream Leadership
Team.
More on Rob.
*****
During
his period as Senior Minister at PBC, Rob
was joined by Evangelism Co-ordinator, Andy Aldridge in late 1993 and by
Assistant Minister, Mark Elder
in 1997.
Mark Elder
Before becoming a Baptist Minister, Mark worked with both Youth For Christ and Tear Fund. In his ministry at Poynton, Mark's mix of northern grit and humour, alongside a blend of leadership and visionary skills that include strong teaching gifts, pastoral sensitivity, and an evangelistic heart, combine in a passionate desire to mobilise the people of God to make a real impact within their spheres of influence. Mark, Zoe and the boys left PBC in July 2006 to move to Newcastle, where Mark was appointed as Senior Minister at Heaton Baptist Church.
*****
Andy Aldridge
Andy served in the role of Evangelism Co-ordinator for 10 years, and built up an effective ministry, especially with the older people and many of the local Poynton folk. Andy is currently involved in the 'Go Project' along with a number of other Christians in the Poynton area.
*****
Alan Leese
Alan Leese, PBC's first Youth Pastor arrived in October 2005 from Scotland where he served as youth worker for Perth Baptist Church for seven years. In that time he married Liz, then became a dad to Gabrielle and Ben. Apart from faith and family Alan's big passions in life are Manchester United FC and Blue Cow. Alan said when he arrived, "I became a Christian in my teens and know the pressures and pitfalls but also the possibilities that are real to young people who want to find God and live 100% for him. My attitude is that we've got to unconditionally stand by the youth of today and walk the path with them. I'm looking forward to working with the young people and everyone who cares for them, to be part of something amazing".
*****
Neil Brighton
Neil is married to Lori (a certified accountant) and they have two children. For the last seven years Neil was the minister of Keyworth Baptist Church, a growing church south east of Nottingham. Neil lists his hobbies as including theology (he is currently researching a PhD) which he assures us is a lot more fun than it sounds, “It’s great to have the opportunity to think through tough questions about God, life and the world”. Worried we might get the wrong impression he hastily added that in his more down to earth moments he also enjoys cycling, walking and camping holidays with the family.
*****
During
Rob White's time, as
the church office personnel expanded, premises were leased at
New PBC Office at 50 Park Lane
In
1997 it was decided that some major building changes would be needed to the size
and functionality of the church building and a building programme costing £400,000
took place over a period of 10/11 months. We
were greatly indebted to
Before After
The building was extended in 1997/8 to provide an impressive atrium entrance, a larger worship area, new kitchen, toilets, crèche, lift and much larger new Sunday Club rooms upstairs.
See some pictures showing the building
activities. 
May 2003
*****
More space within PBC!!!
In September 2007, PBC acquired the rented rooms situated above the Netto Supermarket next door. A number of alterations were made to be able to gain convenient access from the upstairs part of the main PBC building, in addition to a separate entrance door on Park Lane.
This new space was named the Upper Room, and intended for multi-functional uses.
*****
So that's the story of Poynton Baptist Church people and building over the years. The picture above shows how it looks present day, but the church is the people, so why not find out about all that is going on in terms of worship, children's and youth work, Alpha, evangelism, action in the community and further a field, and much more.
Today we are making history, the buildings will look old one day, but changes in people's lives when they come to know God as Saviour, will be eternally everlasting.
Mike Ashton, webmaster.
Thanks for additional contributions from JB and SM.
03-Feb-08
Website Exclusive -
Rev Mark Elder's MA dissertation
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Website Exclusive -
Transcription of PBC history documented from "Abundant Harvest" 1862-1970
Rebuilding '97 - We needed more space. See the photos of the re-building work...
More PBC material - If you have any material that can be added to this history page, please contact the PBC webmaster at...
History of Poynton
Poynton A Coalmining Village; social history, transport and industry 1700 - 1939, by W.H.Shercliff, D.A.Kitching and J.M.Ryan