Our History

The name ‘Bridge Chapel’ comes from the time when we met as a small church in a building by the railway bridge in Garston Village. We have grown considerably since then and needed to move, first renting space in a school hall, and then purchasing the school building in which we now meet.

However the name ‘Bridge’ remains a good reminder of what we have always tried to do – build a bridge into the local community where the love of God in Jesus Christ can be shared.

The current work began in 1980 in a small mission hall built and developed by a faithful praying man named Ernie Morris. At that time the work was small, and the building was offered ‘lock, stock and barrel’ on condition that a Gospel work would continue. Regular preaching and evangelism combined with practical caring ministries, the Open Door coffee shop and faith-based risk taking developed. The Pastor’s study was an upper room in a pet shop and baptisms took place in borrowed churches (or the local swimming pool!). The church building rapidly became too small.

In 1987 Sunday services were moved to the school hall of New Heys School in Heath Road. Our use of the school premises grew over the subsequent seven years, as did the congregation and membership.

During 1994 the City Council announced plans to develop the school on a single site and to demolish and sell the ‘lower school’.

The church members came to view this as a wonderful Godgiven opportunity, and remarkably were enabled to purchase the present ‘Bridge Chapel Centre’ buildings and completely renovate them over a three year period to provide the wonderful resource they are today. Those involved at that time gave all the praise and glory to God alone, as the church plaque in the entrance hall reminds us. Rooms were named after faithful Christian men and women of the past who are an inspiration to us to exercise the same kind of faith today!

The church continues to seek to build a ‘bridge’ to people in our community for them to hear, understand and respond to the wonderful message of God’s rescue of men and women through the Lord Jesus Christ.