Revival Beginnings
Hemsworth Christian Fellowship began life with a move of the Holy Spirit in the local High School in 1973. Under the direction of an RE teacher, Dennis Bavister, many pupils began to encounter God, and were radically saved. They initially met in the local Hemsworth Community Hall on Bullenshaw Rd, known as Hemsworth Evangelical Church with Dave Miller as the first Pastor. Within a few years they were looking for larger premises.
Faith Building
In 1977 the journey began to find suitable accommodation for the growing congregation. No buildings were available, but a former landfill site on Southmoor Rd was identified as a potential building site. Negotiations with Wakefield Council saw the signing of a 100 year lease on the land, and the fellowship set about the not inconsiderable task of designing and building the church building where it now stands. It was a radical octagon-shape that gave it the nickname '50 pence' church or 'threepenny bit' church in the community. Whilst achieving a design award and enjoying fantastic acoustics, it's unusual shape led to a few headaches when it came to interior designing! Much of the graft was done by the members themselves, who gave their time and finances sacrificially to see the project through.
Growth and division
The fellowship enjoyed a period of growth and excitement, with the sunken baptism pool often in use. The church were a part of Harvestime Ministries (Later to become Covenant Ministries), and the church planted a Christian school in Barnsley under the direction of one of the leaders, a school that is still flourishing today. However, as time went on differences in approach to leading the church sadly led to a split, with those wanting to remain in Harvestime leaving to begin a new work in Barnsley. It was a difficult time for all those involved but it was not to be the last.
Church planting and more heartache
The fellowship that remained following the split spent some years recovering and rediscovering their identity. After much prayer in 1990, the leaders felt a desire to plant a new church in the neighbouring village of Ackworth which had no charismatic witness, and Ackworth Community Church came into being under the direction of Tony Horsfall, who was Pastor at Hemsworth having spent several years on the mission field in Malaysia. 12 people were planted from Hemsworth to form the new church which quickly established itself. It is perhaps of interest to note that the current pastor at Hemsworth was one of the first Ackworth people to join the new plant. Sadly, the transition was not quite so smooth for those left in Hemsworth, and soon for various complicated reasons another split occurred and the then pastor at Hemsworth began a new work in the neighbouring town of South Elmsall.
New beginnings big vision,
The church was now without a pastor and being led by a team of elders. After lots of prayer they felt the time had come in 1994 to advertise for a pastor. The people who eventually came were Jim and Elaine Haley. They helped the fellowship to ask itself the question 'why are we here?' and following a long period of increasing faith and miraculous interventions from God, the fellowship gave birth to 'The Springs' Life Resource Project which started as a desire to 'do a little bit more to bless the community' and rapidly turned into a 5 year Big Lottery Funded project from 2003 - 2008 with over 1 million pounds of financing
Major building work
It was during this period that the fellowship were also awarded £200,000 from the Coalfield Regeneration Trust to extend the kitchen, put new buildings in the car park, and completely refurbish the existing premises. This enabled the wonderful environment that is there today.
Community Involvement
Through 'the Springs' project the Fellowship began to play a major role in the community of Hemsworth and beyond. The project had 5 main strands - Older people, Supporting Families including Post Natal Illness support, Counselling (training and provision), Drugs education and support for parents of drug users and Lifelong Learning. A Time Bank (scheme to encourage volunteering and community co-participation) was also set up, and links with local schools developed through a schools worker. A soup kitchen and work with the homeless also became a part of the weekly diary. The PCT also ran specialist groups such as Pulmonary Rehabilitation anjd Diabetes support. During this period 10 staff were employed along with many many volunteers. Each week over 200 people were coming through the doors to the various activities not to mention the many people who were blessed through the off-site activities and groups. The fellowship also joined the Partners in Harvest family of churches in this period.
Funding ends, life goes on
In 2008 the funding streams dried up, and some of the activities run by paid staff had to end, but the majority of groups and services continued, staffed by volunteers, a situation that carries on to the present day. The fellowship continues to employ a pastor, an administrator and a caretaker. Jim and Elaine Haley retired from pastoring the fellowship in 2009, and Ollie and Jenny Hall stepped into their shoes.