Poverest Road Baptist Church

Poverest Road Baptist Church is a baptist church that serves the Poverest area, Orpington, Bromley, England.

Its 1963 main building and 1936 school hall is home to a growing membership of many nationalities, including Chinese, Nigerian, German, South African, New Zealand and Ghanaian amongst others.

The Reverend Peter Robinson, a New Zealand pastor whose previous church, Shoreditch Tabernacle Baptist Church, underwent a £1.2m building project, took over as Minister in charge in 2000.

History

1930s to present

Poverest Road Baptist Church began its life when the burgeoning congregation at Orpington Baptist Church opted to establish itself in the Poverest area as a solution to its ever increasing size. Initial services took place in the living room of Poverest Farm, until 1936, when a modest hall was built on a small plot of land on Poverest Road, at the cost of £1,600.

The building boasted its own baptismal pool under its main floor and, after the Second World War broke out just three years later, its own air-raid shelter.

Under the ministry of the Reverend E. Barlow, the Church gained phenomenal growth, necessitating a Primary Hall to house the Sunday school, which was built within the year. The building was, yet again, outgrown by it occupants when, in 1958, the membership had risen to 137. Consequently, and after nearly 20 years of peace, the air-raid shelter was transformed into a Scout den as space, once again, became an issue.

The building project realized by the then congregation was intended to be in three manageable stages. In 1963 stage one was completed, and the Reverend Paul Harrison was the new building's first minister. Then came an after-school club, followed by a nursery; both of which took up residence in the old building. However, the second and third stages were never completed, and hence the church to this day lacks key facilities. A nursery and after-school club still operate in the hall today, and the local Scout group still use the air-raid shelter as a den. But, sadly, the original buildings – now in their 60th year – are becoming impossible to maintain.

Building project

1.7m refurbishment project

Due to the accelerated rate of the hall’s deterioration, along with the need for the nursery and after school care within the community, and also the unfinished nature of the main building, fundraising efforts commenced in January 2006 to renovate and expand the current buildings. A multi-use rear hall is also planned.

Funding through public events have included guest speakers such as Christian apologist John Blanchard, classical concerts, as Christian praise and worship concerts.

Services and meetings

Sunday morning services

Sunday morning services run from 10:30 - 12:00, with a Holy Communion being held on the 3rd Sunday of the month and a family Service being held on the 4th Sunday of the month.

Sunday evening services

Holy Communion Healing services run from 16:30 - 17:30 every 1st Sunday of the month and a Worship Service from 19:00 - 20:00 every 3rd Sunday.

Cell/house group

A house group meets every Wednesday at 19:30 - 22:00.

External links

• Poverest Road Baptist Church's official website