OUR HISTORY

In an age when we have sadly witnessed the closure of many churches, and others reducing the authority of the gospel by introducing gimmicks and entertainment into their services, and generally accommodating themselves to the standard of the world's thinking; we can rejoice that God in His grace has kept this fellowship free from those kinds of influences. Not that this is said in any superior way, but as a testimony to God's keeping and grace.

There has been over the past sixty-five years and prior to that, a real and full commitment to the declaration of the whole counsel of God, and an honest and sincere handling of the Word of God. There is a sense in which this small article will be found to be repetitive, as time and time again we are constrained to give thanks and praise to our God and Father for His faithfulness and wonderful dealings with us.

There are of course many people to be thanked for the help and assistance that I have been given in the preparation of this article. Those who have been kind enough to lend me old newspaper cuttings, back copies of The Ambassador, old photographs and different memorabilia. It has all been of the greatest value. I should also like to take the opportunity to express my thanks to the Rev. A.E. Chillington for his help and assistance. He has been a source of much information and a real encouragement to me. He has been kind enough to read through this article. His contributions and criticisms have always been extremely gracious, and his support much appreciated.

I hope that you find this article as encouraging to read as it has been to write; that, as you see how God's hand has been upon the fellowship in the past and in the present, it will inspire you to pray for us in the days to come that we may know in a great measure God's presence among us, and that it may be true for us 'that the glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former' (Haggai 2: 9).

The history of the Baptist cause in Liverpool is both a fascinating one, and one that is encouraging to read.

In the latter part of the seventeenth century a Baptist fellowship was established in a place called Hill Cliff near Warrington. It was from here that in 1700 the first Baptist fellowship was organised in Liverpool, in the home of a Daniel Fabius (alias Been), a Dutch merchant who lived in Everton. The work flourished and by the year 1714 was independent of Hill Cliff.

By 1729, the work had grown to the extent that land was purchased in Byrom Street, and a new chapel was built to house the fellowship. However over the following years nothing of any real significance happened, and little real progress was made, that is, until the church called to the pastorate the Rev. Samuel Medley. Medley had served in the Royal Navy, but had been discharged after being wounded. A little while after his discharge, he was converted under the preaching of George Whitfield. He entered in the Baptist ministry in 1767, and was called to Byrom Street in 1771. The coming of Medley to the church had an immediate impact, and the church was soon flourishing, to the extent that in 1773 the church was enlarged, and it became known as the 'cathedral of the Baptist denomination.' The enlargements made to the church were not enough and a new church was built, opening for worship in 1789. When Samuel Medley died in 1800, the church called the Rev. Richard Davies to the pastorate. About thirty members who were opposed to the coming of Mr. Davies left the church and began a work in Church Street. This fellowship eventually moved to Lime Street where they erected their own building in 1803. The fellowship eventually moved to Myrtle Street in 1841, when the Lime Street Church was compulsorily purchased for a road widening scheme. What is significant as far as we are concerned, is that a father and son by the name of Cunningham, who were members at Lime Street, pioneered the first Baptist meetings in Old Swan. The work however was not really successful and after several years was discontinued.

In 1860, a mission was undertaken again in Old Swan. This time a number of Baptist churches from Liverpool were involved, with the result that a small fellowship began to meet in a hayloft in Green Lane. The work continued to grow, albeit quite slowly, and eventually some assembly rooms off St. Oswald Street were hired. There was still little growth until the church called to the Rev. Daniel Jones to the work of the pastorate. Mr. Jones had received his theological training in Haverfordwest College, Pembrokeshire, and was previously in a church in Shrewsbury. The calling of Mr. Jones was on the recommendation of the fellowship at Myrtle Street, and under his ministry the work began to prosper.

In 1878, land was purchased in St. Oswald Street. By 1879 the Old Swan Baptist Chapel, as it was called, had been built and was being used for services.

By November 1879 the chapel had a membership of 60, and a Sunday School of over 200 scholars. In late 1879, Mr. Jones left the pastorate, and over the next four years the work fluctuated.

From 1883 to 1889 the chapel was without a pastor. Two short pastorates of nine months and one year respectively followed. In 1890 it was decided, because the work was declining, to affiliate with the congregation that was meeting at the Kensington Baptist Church. However the chapel at Old Swan remained open as a branch mission.

In 1892 Pastor Peake from Manchester was appointed to the work at Old Swan, and the work flourished once more. After Mr. Peake had been in the work for only twelve months, the church at Kensington were approached, and representations were made to separate the work once more. This was agreed. However, after a further twelve months Pastor Peake was called and accepted, the pastorate at Grange Road, Birkenhead.

Following the departure of Pastor Peake, Pastor Lodd was called to the church, once again the work declined and the church in Kensington were asked to take oversight of the work.

Information for next the twenty years or so is very sketchy, and it is not until 1927 that we come across 'hard evidence' in connection with the work at Old Swan.

On the 6th September 1927, at a church meeting held at Old Swan when about twenty people were present, the following resolution was unanimously resolved, 'That our members, having withdrawn from the roll of Kensington Church, we now proceed to reform this church (Old Swan) on an independent basis'.

The chairman (the acting pastor) William Howarth, introduced a new constitution which was unanimously accepted.

Over the next few years the work continued to fluctuate; howbeit, in 1930 the church invited a twenty-six-year-old Baptist lay preacher to the pastorate of Old Swan Baptist Church. No-one at that time could have foreseen the long and important ministry that he was about to exercise, or the enormous changes that were to take place in the developing history of the church.

The young Baptist lay preacher was the Rev. A.E. Chillington, under whose ministry God was pleased to honour and bless the work.

During Mr. Chillington's early ministry in Old Swan, Mr & Mrs James Kelly were drawn into fellowship and were converted to God. It has been said that the coming of Mr. Kelly into the fellowship at this time, was like that of Esther of old when God raised up an one for such a time like this. In 1937 notification was received from the Liverpool Corporation that the premises were going to be involved in a slum clearance/road widening scheme. This news, as can be imagined, was met with much dismay and apprehension. Nevertheless the fellowship of God's people were to see that in the providence of God all things do work together for good to them that love Him.

For the next few months there was uncertainty as to the future of the work, although the church was determined to maintain a Gospel witness in the area. Much correspondence between the church, the Liverpool Corporation and the Baptist Union took place. The result being that the Corporation intended going ahead with the compulsory purchase of the church and paying any compensation monies to the Baptist Union. It was at this time that the fellowship unanimously decided to secede from the Baptist Union.

In the meantime, Mr. Kelly had purchased a substantial plot of ground at the junction of East Prescot Road and Pilch Lane. He had also financed the building of a new church which, in the providence of God, was completed at the same time that Old Swan Baptist Church was to close. This land and building was given to the church by Mr. Kelly in gratitude for all that he had received from God.

Much more could be said of these early days and, in hindsight, it is wonderful to see the preserving Hand of God on the work which led, by His providing Grace to the emergence of Calvary Independent Baptist Church.

On Sunday the 1st May 1938, the first church service was held in Calvary Independent Baptist Church. The previous Sunday had witnessed the final meeting in the Old Swan Baptist Church, and it was with much praise and thanksgiving to God that His people were able to continue the work and witness of the gospel in the area. Calvary Church is about a mile and a half from St. Oswald Street.

The fellowship had always been insistent that the work of God would continue in the area, and had strenuously resisted efforts by the Baptist Union to move the work to Speke. The fellowship had known what it was to meet with much opposition. The enemy of man's soul was extremely active in trying to hinder the work. Yet God, in His Grace, overruled and the work was established in this new building.

The church was built on a valuable piece of property in a residential area near to a major trunk road, being now only about a mile from the motorway. It is capable of seating approximately 500 people.

The work at Calvary, and previously at Old Swan, was unashamedly and avowedly both evangelical and evangelistic, with both the Pastor and the members of the church committed to an uncompromising belief in the infallibility and authority of the Word of God. An early printing block made for advertising purposes, showing the church standing on an open Bible, is just one indication of this. The text over the pulpit declares 'THY WORD IS TRUTH.' That is what is simply, but wholeheartedly, believed.

The work was honoured by God from the very beginning. Even in the early days of the work, the Lord clearly established that He owned this work and had set His own seal on it; many being brought to a saving knowledge of Himself through the Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the early landmarks in the life of Calvary Church was the establishing of the Calvary Convention. This began in 1941 when the Second World War was in progress. Because of the severe bombing that was being experienced in the city, it was decided by those who organised what was known as the Liverpool Convention (an annual event in the city) that it be cancelled. It was decided by the church that they would take responsibility for holding the Convention. Since that time an annual Bible Convention has taken place in the church. Even when the Liverpool Convention was re-inaugurated some time later, the Calvary Convention continued. One of the hallmarks of this Convention, as far as the members and friends of Calvary church were concerned, was the decision to hold a week of prayer prior to the Convention meetings. These prayer meetings were specifically called to pray for the Ministry of the Word of God as it would be expounded the following week by the various speakers that would be invited from all over the country. In an age when there is so much confusion, particularly in the churches, such times of Bible teaching and exposition of Scripture, by reliable men of God should be regarded as being of great value and importance.

It should be remembered that in these early years of the work at Calvary church, and indeed during the eight previous years that Rev. A.E. Chillington ministered at Old Swan Baptist Church, the position of the pastor was an honorary one. However, in November 1940 the diaconate felt that the time had come when the pastorate should be undertaken on a full-time basis. This was put to Mr. Chillington, who agreed to accept the position on two conditions: firstly, that the proposal be put to the church, and that it was the wish of the whole church that he become full time; and secondly, if the church agreed to the proposal, then he would undertake the work of the pastorate full-time, but only on a faith basis.

And so, the work under God continued to grow and many were added to the church.

In January 1946 the church began to publish a monthly magazine called The Ambassador. This has been published on a regular basis since that time.

Calvary Church has never been the kind of fellowship that will 'rest on its laurels.' It has been determined rather, that as glory to God, and to God alone, is given to what is done, the desire has always been to press on, never to sit back. In the years that followed the emergence of Calvary church, there were times when it would have been relatively easy for the church to rest and take its ease, for much had been accomplished. The work in all branches of the church was flourishing. Nevertheless it was realised that though under God, and by God's Grace much had been done, there was still much to do, and the church continued to be aggressively evangelistic. Open air work, tract distribution in different areas of the city, the support of gospel orientated work (for example, the work done in Clint Road), work amongst the children and so on; all this continued on a regular basis.

The work of the Sunday School was a great encouragement from the start, and for many years the church building was overcrowded with children. The need for further buildings to house the Sunday School was recognised. It was, however, not until 1957 that the church was in a position to go ahead with the erection of a new Sunday School building. By early 1958 the Sunday School building was completed and in use.

Another significant event in the life of the church occurred some three years prior to the opening of the Sunday School building. It was the recommendation from the pastor and the diaconate to the membership, that the church become affiliated to the FIEC (Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches). At a church meeting held on 22nd June 1955 it was decided by an almost unanimous vote, that the church should join this body. It should be noted that Rev. A.E. Chillington was elected National President of the FIEC on two occasions.

During the following years, the work particularly of outreach continued with the planting of Lymm Evangelical Church and Croxteth Independent Baptist Church. At the same time, men who had been trained through the various branches of the church were offering themselves for the Christian Ministry, and others with their wives were offering themselves for service on the mission field.

In 1970, a notable event took place in the church. This was the celebration of Mr. Chillington's fortieth anniversary as the church's pastor. It is significant that reading the events that surrounded the occasion, throughout it all God was glorified. In the May issue of The Ambassador which records the event, it tells of the response of Mr. Chillington to the kindness that had been expressed to him and Mrs. Chillington in these words, 'He responded by saying he was thankful that in the goodness of God, He had seen fit to spare him to minister His Word for over forty years.' A little further in The Ambassador under the heading "To God Be The Glory" we can read again of the praise and thanks given to God.

In January 1974, after a ministry of almost forty four years in the same fellowship, Rev. A.E. Chillington retired. It is very difficult to sum up in any detail the pastorate of Mr. Chillington. He faithfully expounded the Scriptures, and gave testimony in his life as a man of God and minister of the Gospel, that God had graciously and wonderfully dealt with his soul.

The church was not to be without pastoral oversight for very long. In the goodness of God in July 1974 the Rev. D.J. Mervyn Evans was called. He had been trained at the London Bible College and continued the evangelical ministry; seeing he, like his predecessor, expounded the Word of God in its fullness and truth.

The ministry of Mr. Evans was a time of consolidation. Nevertheless, we can again give praise to God that under his ministry, people were saved and added to the church.

Mr & Mrs. Evans had a particular gift in working with the elderly people of the congregation, and there are many testimonies from the older members of the congregation that could be included here. It was at this time that an outreach work commenced in Morley Court, a warden-controlled establishment for the elderly.

Under the ministry of Mr. Evans the different activities of the church, which included the door-to-door visitation, the open air work and tract distribution, the work amongst the children, as well as the regular Sunday by Sunday exposition of the Scriptures, and the weekly Bible Study, all continued.

In the latter part of 1982, it became quite clear to both Mr & Mrs Evans that they would have to leave the work of the pastorate at Calvary Church for personal reasons, and return to Herefordshire, to take care of Mr Evans' aged and infirm mother. In January 1983 he resigned from the pastorate.

The eight years that Mr. Evans spent at the church were marked, like that of his predecessor, by the faithful exposition of the Scriptures and by his gracious and humble walk before God.

There followed a considerable interregnum of some eighteen months before a call was extended to the Rev. C. Rogers, who was at that time the pastor of a small fellowship in North Wales.

Mr. Rogers had received his theological training in the University of Wales at Aberystwyth, and had done further training in Social Work in the University of Liverpool.

In September 1984, Rev. C. Rogers was inducted to the work at Calvary Church and, like his predecessors, continued an evangelical and evangelistic ministry. Annual Holiday Bible Clubs for the children were started, and underlined by a weekly Bible Club for children of infant and junior school age. Work amongst the elderly was enlarged to the extent that the church had the privilege of being involved in two residential homes for the elderly, and visited each of them on a regular basis, with gospel services being held. Work in the open air, regular tract distribution, door to door work, and work amongst the teenagers, all went on.

There was some progress made over the ensuing years, and we have been able to rejoice in God's presence with us. People continued to be saved and, through the weekly exposition of the Scriptures, the people of God were built up in the faith.

Pastor Rogers left at the end of 2002, and now pastors a church in South Wales. After eighteen months without a full-time preacher, the church called Pastor Ray Peel, who had been overseeing a flock of the Lord's people in Weymouth. The church has great hopes for the years to come.

Under the gracious provision of God, much has been accomplished over the past sixty-odd years. Nevertheless as we look around the area in which God in His providence placed this work, we have only just begun.

Over the years much has been learnt, and yet it is true that there remains much to learn.

It is the prayer of this generation of God's people who are in fellowship at Calvary Church that, if it pleases the Lord to tarry, that the coming generation will have an even greater story to tell, as the God of all grace descends upon this church in revival, and causes a 'great awakening' in this great city, and throughout this land.

We do covet the prayers of all who are interested in the work of God here, that we may know the power of the gospel among us, and see many being brought into His kingdom.

So, whilst it is right to reflect on God's goodness over these years, and we do indeed 'praise Him for all that is past,' we do 'trust Him for all that is to come.'

TO GOD ALONE BE ALL THE GLORY

1839 - First Baptist outreach to Old Swan

1860 - Second Baptist outreach to Old Swan. Fellowship established in Green Lane

1873 - Rev Daniel Jones called to the work

1879 - Old Swan Baptist Chapel opened

1890 - Church amalgamated with Kensington Baptist Church

1892 - Old Swan separated from Kensington

1894 - Church once more amalgamated with Kensington

1927 - Old Swan Baptist Church re-formed

1930 - Rev. A.E. Chillington called to the pastorate (honorary)

1938 - Secession from the Baptist Union. Closure of Old Swan because of compulsory purchase. Opening of Calvary Independent Baptist Church

1940 - Rev. A.E. Chillington became full time

1941 - First Calvary Convention

1946 - First Ambassador published

1955 - Calvary Church affiliated to the FIEC

1958 - Sunday School Hall opened

1970 - Rev. A.E. Chillington's fortieth anniversary

1974 - Rev. A.E. Chillington retired from the pastorate. Rev. D.J.M. Evans called to the church

1983 - Rev. D.J.M. Evans resigned from the pastorate

1984 - Rev. C. Rogers called to the church

1988 - Fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the church

2000 - Old Sunday School hall demolished, and new extension built

2001 - Rev. C. Rogers resigned from the pastorate

2003 - Pastor Ray Peel called to the church