The present and to the future

Pastor David Silvester

This year proved to be a very special year for the church, for it moved into three pastoral situations; the closing of Pastor Don Boyes, an interregnum and the Induction service of Pastor David Silvester.

From the Annual General Meeting report of that year fifteen applications were made to the church for the pastorate, and subsequent to preaching with a view the Rev David Silvester was invited to be pastor.

The Ordination and Induction of Rev David Silvester was ministered on Saturday 21 October 1989 at 3 pm.

The following year texts have been given to the church.

1990: Isaiah 43:18-19 'Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing: do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland'.

1991: Hebrews 12:1-2 'Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith; who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.'

1992: Isaiah 41:9b/10 'I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.'

1993: 1 John 3:18 'Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.'

1994: 2 Chronicles 7:14 'If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

From the very beginning of the ministry of David and Margaret Silvester growth in numbers, and in spirituality had been seen by all in the body of the church here. We give God all the glory.

Evangelism Mission Expansion of buildings. It is just the beginning!

The church has become a beautiful place; member's gifts have been used to beautify with embroidered and colourful banners. The organ has been removed and a small orchestra leads the worship and singing time, a time that only the Lord can order with the Holy Spirit ministering in very special ways of healing and making whole. It is a warm building, a love building, where God's word is faithfully shared.

It is not finished. In his 1992 report, Pastor sums up the future: 'But what of the future? The systematic teaching of the Word of God is of paramount importance in order to build a strong foundation for the church to develop under God's guidance, live and move in the power of the Holy Spirit. Although prayer goes on constantly in small groups, scripture would indicate that the whole church should be a praying church in order to become a powerful church.

God's purpose for the church of Jesus Christ is that it should be reaching out into the community and bringing people into the Kingdom of Heaven.'

And from his 1993 report 'Twelve people were baptised; church membership increased to pass the hundred mark; television cameras were in church to record material for use on an Easter Day broadcast; the application for planning permission to build a multi-purpose hall at the back of the present buildings was approved; and the change over from Sunday School, Toucans and Friday Club to 'Covenanters' took place, ail exciting stuff! Praise the Lord for all that He has achieved '

In conclusion Pastor continues and closes his report, 'I find the reflection of the past year has been an exciting one, but am reminded how we are exhorted, 'Do not dwell on the past'! So looking forward, I find the anticipation of what lies ahead even more exciting than I did this time last year, as I know more of the faithfulness of God to fulfill His promises to His own 'Dear Children'.'

 1994

The new building is completed, opening up new opportunities for daily use and community outreach.

One hundred and seventy two years since the very first church building was opened and 200 years since the first preaching point was established. Yes. where "our forefathers stood on this ground telling the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, of him crucified for each one of us. and of the resurrection from the dead that we might believe in Him and experience new life so our mission is still the same We thank God today for their faith, for without them our task might be greater today

The new building that was in the minds of the church twenty years ago- has now been built and is open for use: the work amongst the families and young people is being consolidated by a people who are seeking to follow the way of Jesus Christ

'Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!Now it springs up; do you not perceive it" I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:18-19,

'If my people, who are called by my name. will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked wavs. then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land ' •: 2 Chronicles 7:14)

'But you who revere my name , the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.' (Malachi 4:2)

Peter addressing the crowd in. Acts 2 and v15 reminds us, 'This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: In the last days. God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions. your old men will dream dreams Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below. blood and fire and billows of smoke The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

THE GAP is the name we have given to our new building.

In Ezekiel 22 v 30 we hear the Lord saying, 'I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so that I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.'

It is the intention of the fellowship here that THE GAP will be used for the Lord's work here in Barrow.

19. Pastors

James Drewitt Alford 1896 died 1897 (gravestone by car park)

1899 Rev G Wilson (died 1914)

1913-1914 Rev I Brook

1920 - 1923 Rev W Lonsdale

1941-1945 Mr G E Turner (Lay pastor)

1955 - 1958 Mr D Hubbard (Lay pastor)

1958 - 1960 Mr R E Milton (Lay pastor)

1963-1966 Mr R G Webb (Lay pastor)

1967-1973 Mr J T Watterson (Lay pastor)

1974 - 1975 Mr R Hodges (Lay pastor)

1975 - 1977 Mr R Hodges (Pastor)

1978 - 1989 Rev D Boyes (Pastor)

1989 - Rev D G Silvester (Pastor)

20. Church Secretaries

(as from 1907 when minutes available)

 1907 - 1917 Mr J Frier

 1917- 1934 Mr H York

 1934 - 1941 Mr W Ball

 1941 - 1952 Mr J E Frier

 1952- 1964 Mrs E Sutton

 1964 - 1966 Mr L McCubbin

1966- 1968 Mr A R Woods

1968 - 1980 Mr A Childs

 1980- 1985 Mrs D Hudson

1985 - 1986 Mrs J Passley ) Joint

 1985 - 1987 Mrs B Goodey ) Secretaries

1987 - 1989 Mrs H Dyer

1989 - 1993 Mr A Childs

1993 - Mrs P B Haley