The first Baptist Church in the village of Holmer Green
was a small brick and flint structure built in 1869. At that time Holmer
Green was a small hamlet of some fifty cottages, situated between the
Buckinghamshire towns of High Wycombe and Amersham. The population was
about 150 people, the employment being mainly in agriculture or fruit
growing.
The church building was altered and added to over the
next 130 years. By the late 1980's, the village had grown to a thriving
community comprising modern housing estates and a population of over 4,500.
The number of people going to the Baptist Church on a regular basis had
also considerably increased, and the existing building was becoming inadequate,
both in terms of size and structure. The members had a vision of a brand
new Baptist Church and enquiries were made to establish whether this was
a feasible idea. It was, and under the leadership and ministry of Rev
Hedley Feast, the members were encouraged to work and pray for the fulfillment
of this vision.
Rev Feast moved back to Oxfordshire in 1993, but fund-raising
continued and by 1999, planning permission had been obtained and sufficient
funds were available to commence the project. It was decided that the
year 2000 would be an appropriate time for the opening of the new church,
and construction work began. The new building was completed by the end
of 1999, and the first worship service was held on 16th January 2000 -
a great time of celebration and thanksgiving to God.
Since the opening of the church it has been used not only
by the church but by various other organisations, including walking clubs,
children's groups and youth groups.
From March 2001 to January 2004, Rev Graeme Harrison was
the minister and it is recognised that in this period there was a growth
in the spirituality of the church and also an increase in the number of
people attending, especially for the youth groups.
After a period of 18 months without a minister Rev Mike
Pons, was inducted to this post in September 2005.
The prayer of the church is for God's Holy Spirit to sweep through the
lives of all who attend the church and who are part of its life and that
this will flow out into our communities so that the whole village of Holmer
Green will come to have a relationship with God, through his son Jesus
Christ.
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