A Brief History of Hambleton Evangelical Church

Forty years ago this year, in January 1969, a group of four young couples started meeting together for Bible study and prayer in a home in Topcliffe. One of their number, Rev. J. Malcolm Peters, was invited to lead them as their Minister and, with a number of children at the Sunday services, the front room of Hall Farm was often full to bursting. 

In 1976 they bought the building in Carlton Miniott, home of the church today. Soon afterwards the Good News Club for primary children was started, and other regular meetings followed. 

As the church grew, an elder and deacons were appointed to support Malcolm in the teaching and administration of the church. The building was extended to the front and rear, providing a second meeting room, an entrance hall, and kitchen and toilet facilities. 

With Malcolm Peters approaching the age of retirement, in May 2002 Rev. Dr. Jonathan Bayes became our second Minister. He continued the work of regular preaching and teaching from the Bible, and our present elders, Steve Harding and Geraint Davies, were appointed to assist him in the work. 

From our earliest days as a church we have taken a keen interest in missionary work, and this was further stimulated by Jonathan Bayes' involvement with the training of pastors overseas. Over the course of several years Jonathan made a number of visits to the city of Iloilo in the Philippines, and in November 2007 he taught in a second country in the Far East. 

Early in 2007 Jonathan was invited by Carey Outreach Ministries to work full-time in training young pastors in the developing world. After much thought and discussion the church agreed to release him, and Jonathan preached his last sermon as our Minister on 31 December 2007. Under the leadership of the Elders, and in confident dependence upon God, we are now seeking another Minister. 

Today the eight founder members are not as young as they were, but we thank God that they are still with us, and that they have the same love for Jesus Christ which led them to start a Bible-believing church 40 years ago.