Starting a new congregation in Holborn has an air of familiarity. We last started a new congregation in 2018 when we began the evening service. Even then, as a much smaller church, we needed more space to welcome newcomers and foster a deep sense of community.
We faced a similar challenge again in 2019 when we outgrew our previous venue and found ourselves regularly squeezing past each other to get to the coffee machine (sound familiar?). We moved both services into a bigger space at the London Nautical School on that occasion. But at both these points in our church’s history, the desire for more people to hear the gospel and experience genuine community meant a shift was needed.
In establishing a new congregation at a new venue, we’re combining two shifts we've previously made. But while there is a familiarity to multiplying again, we recognise it's no small change. There's much to be done, and we need Jesus' guidance and your support as we move ahead with the launch.
There are parallels between what we’re doing in planting a church family into Holborn and what it is like to move house. From experience, there is usually a rapid change of perception from ‘I don’t have that much stuff - how hard can it be?’ to ‘There’s actually a lot to do here… We’re going to need some help’.
When Nats and I moved into our current flat, we called upon an army of willing volunteers to help us with almost everything. Some friends helped to clean our old flat, others provided lunch for everyone, and some put their Tetris skills to good use and packed the van with all our belongings. Even after we moved in, more people helped us paint the walls, put up shelves, and lent us their car for the inevitable IKEA trip. Everyone played a part, and their combined efforts and skills were essential in making the whole thing successful.
In scripture, we see the same pattern. God gives people specific roles to fulfil his purposes. There are countless examples throughout the Bible of individuals and groups of people being raised up by God to serve him and his people.
As we take this step of faith in forming a new community on the other side of the Thames, I want to encourage you to consider what part you can play. Can you help to establish serving teams in the Holborn congregation? Or perhaps strengthen our existing teams in Waterloo? In any case, be encouraged that Jesus is building His church and is inviting you to play a part in whatever capacity you can.
A significant step in the life of our church
This autumn term, we plan to begin a third service on Sundays. This new congregation will meet across the river in Holborn, from 13th October, Lord willing.
The decision to plant another congregation has come after much prayer and discussion among the elders. There is always a temptation to keep things as they are, not least because church life is so rich. Why mess with that?!
But the gospel is designed to multiply. Paul wrote to the believers in Colossae about ‘the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth…’ And Jesus said, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.’
If you’ve ever fermented anything – sourdough starter, kimchi, sauerkraut – you’ll know that the fermenting jar can explode if there isn’t a release valve. The yeast (or leaven) multiplies rapidly, releasing carbon dioxide, and causing the pressure to build. That’s the vivid picture Jesus is using when he talks about this inherent power of the gospel to bubble and ferment with explosive growth.
For quite some time now, we have been facing a significant pressure on space, especially in the morning service. We have felt the need for more capacity, but so far the Lord has not opened the doors to a larger venue. Instead, it seems that the Lord has (quite unexpectedly) provided an opportunity for us to use a suitable venue just north of Waterloo Bridge. This piqued our interest because, around eight years ago, we felt the Lord speak to us about planting a congregation north of the river, and meeting both sides of the Thames. We have not wanted to force this, or cause it to happen prematurely. But now it feels clear that this is the right step for the church. It’s now time to release the pressure and give space for the church to multiply.
Therefore, Sundays at Grace will most likely look like this: 10am Waterloo, 11.30am Holborn, 5pm Waterloo. This is a big change and we’re going to feel the stretch. As we take this big step forward, please continue praying for our church – its health, maturing, and spiritual life.
Our expectation is that most of you will remain committed to your current congregation, which is ideal. But equally, you may feel led to help start this new congregation in Holborn. If that is the case, we’d like to hear from you and would ask you to fill in the form and then join us on Sunday, 22nd September, at 1.30pm for a meeting to talk and pray this through.
Update, September 2024
We are pleased to confirm that the Holborn service will be meeting at 11.30am, from 13th October at this address:
The New Academic Building,
The London School of Economics,
54 Lincoln's Inn Fields,
London, WC2A 3LJ