Eglwys Efengylaidd EBENEZER Evangelical Church 50th Anniversary 1969-2019 ‘Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer (Stone of Help), saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”’ (1 Samuel 7:12) 1 2 Setting the scene - Bangor in the late 1960s Bangor is the oldest city in Wales and can trace its history back to the 6th Century AD when a monastic settlement was established (on the site of the present cathedral) by the Celtic Saint, Deiniol. ‘Bangor’ is a Welsh word for a ‘wattled enclosure’, which will have aptly described it all those years ago. Because of the long-standing cathedral, Bangor has been recognised as a ‘city’ by ancient perspective right. However, official city status was conferred upon in by the Queen in 1974. Despite the city’s age, Bangor remains one of the smallest cities in the United Kingdom. As a University City, Bangor continues to draw students, from all over the world, which swells the population considerably. Yet, despite this influx, Bangor continues to retain a strong Welsh feel. In the 1960s, most places of worship in Bangor provided services through the Welsh medium. In common with the rest of Wales, Bangor had many chapels and churches in every district, but the tide was turning. The blessings of the 1859 and 1904 revivals in Wales were no longer being felt. Churches and chapels were drifting from the truths of the gospel, congregations were dwindling and beginning to close. It seemed that for all intents and purposes the apostolic gospel had ceased to be proclaimed from the pulpits of Bangor. Born-again believers, not those considering themselves ‘Christian’ through their heritage or church attendance, place a high priority on Bible-centred churches. This meant that many a Christian Gospel Hall, Llanfairfechan student coming to Bangor 3 struggled to find a ‘spiritual home’ where the gospel was faithfully preached. Local churches and chapels were often felt to be liberal, or, unaccommodating to those of an evangelical persuasion. It was not uncommon for believers from the University’s Christian Union to feel thoroughly frustrated and spiritually malnourished in some of the denominational churches of Bangor. Those who could travel would attend places of worship where they knew the Bible was preached consistently. Several in the 1960s found fellowship at the Gospel Hall in Llanfairfechan with some travelling as far as the Elim and Baptist churches in Holyhead. It must be noted that some local ministers were known to be ‘evangelical’ even if their denominations were no longer so. Yet the issue for many believers was to find a true spiritual home, where they could be fed and nurtured from the Word whilst being a part of a worshipping and serving body. There was also a real fear that the work of the University’s Christian Union was being severely hindered by the lack of a clear evangelical witness in the city. Was now the time to commence an evangelical witness in Bangor, so that the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ could be faithfully preached? A Bible-believing church where believers could be built up in the faith and equipped for of Christian service? In wonderful works of providence, our Sovereign God was doing just that. Beginnings of the Welsh aspect of the work in Bangor In the mid to late 1960s a small group of believers had met in the home of Mrs. Betty Williams on Caernarfon Road for Bible study through the medium of Welsh. Although this group had lapsed by the autumn of 1969, it nevertheless revealed the appetite amongst local believers, as well as Welsh-speaking students, for such a meeting. 4 Geraint Elfyn Jones, who had been converted during his time at Cardiff University, attended a prayer meeting where a colleague prayed for the city of Bangor as there was no evangelical witness there. Prior to this, Geraint had shown little interest in the wider work of God in other places, not least Bangor. Sensing that the Lord may be directing him there, he shared this with his fiancee, Elisabeth (now his wife). Confirmation of this came when Rev. Vernon Higham and Rev. Elwyn Davies approached him as to whether he would be willing to go north and help the Bible study group that had been meeting in Mrs. Williams’ home. Having only shared his thoughts with Elisabeth, the approach of two godly men further confirmed this was God’s will. Feeling his inexperience and spiritual immaturity, he prayed for more confirmation and found it in the scriptures. Mordecai said to Esther, ‘Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’ (Esther 4:14b). Over the next few months, Geraint set about making arrangements to relocate to North Wales. Although currently engaged in a research project, his tutor was happy for him to relocate. Elisabeth was successful in finding employment in a post she had thought not sufficiently qualified to obtain. Upon arrival in Bangor, Geraint and Elisabeth had intended to visit various local churches and ‘survey the scene’ spiritually. However, during their very first week in the city they met another Christian couple, Barrie and Maureen Griffith who were able to explain the local situation. Their first Sunday in Bangor saw the group meeting together in ‘Green Bank’, Barrie and Maureen’s flat near the pier. Interest in this Welsh venture grew and the work was established. Another couple were identified as keen Green Bank, Garth Road, Bangor 5 to join their group, Dewi and Maggie Hughes who began attending from the second week of meetings. Unbeknown to this group, there were like-minded Christians meeting elsewhere in an English group. Beginnings of the English aspect of the work in Bangor Hugh Michael and David Norbury were friends from school and had both been converted in their mid-teens. Hugh had come to Bangor to complete a diploma in Theology, whilst Dave was studying Chemistry. Both friends shared a house together at no. 38 Caellepa. In common with their peers in the Christian Union, both friends travelled out of Bangor for Church services on a Sunday. Dave joined with the Brethren in Llanfairfechan, whilst Hugh travelled by motorbike to Elim Pentecostal Church in Holyhead. Something local was needed, perhaps even in their front room! The first meeting, of what would become Ebenezer Evangelical Church, took place in Caellepa one Sunday in early September 1969. There were only two present, Hugh and his Indian friend, Gururaj. The format was very simple, both men shared from the Word and prayed together. Interestingly, the pair were bare-footed, a cultural reference to Gururaj’s background. The following 38 Caellepa, Bangor week, Dave joined them for a similar format of an open forum, each contributing from Scripture then climaxing with breaking bread together. The nearest comparison to those early meetings would be a 6 Brethren-style service, but there was never any formal affiliation with a Brethren group. It was not long before that members of this English group discovered they were not alone in Bangor, and that a Welsh group of evangelical Christians had commenced meetings in Green Bank. A church emerging – Bangor Evangelical Church Both groups were now aware of the other’s existence and decided to meet to encourage one another. So, Geraint and Elisabeth invited Dave and Hugh round for ‘Tea’. Unbeknown to Elisabeth at the time, the reason Hugh hadn’t eaten much of the large meal she had prepared was because of a confusion over the term ‘Tea’. Earlier that afternoon, the young men had argued over what was meant by ‘Tea’. To Dave, this was an evening meal. To Hugh, ‘Tea’ meant cake and a cup of tea and so he took it upon himself to stock up on jam sandwiches beforehand! Despite the difference in interpretation of ‘Tea’, it became clear to the four as they met that they were of the same mind. They agreed that there should not be two separate efforts but that they should work together, bilingually, catering for the English and Welsh aspects of the community. A format was ratified of two services on Sunday morning: The Welsh service at 10:00am in ‘Green Bank’, and the English service held at 11:15am in 38 Caellepa. Then there should also be a combined service in English at Caellepa. From the October of that year, both groups experienced growth and encouragements as they followed this format. Chairs had to be loaned from the ‘Tin Tab’ (Independent Evangelical Church) in Llandudno, along with hymn books. Dave would play a cheap plastic keyboard, from Woolworths, although his repertoire only consisted of four hymn tunes. 7 So many were cramming into the terraced house on Cae Llepa that it was common for people to be sitting in the kitchen, on the stairs, and on the upstairs landing (where a speaker had been wired to relay the service). On some busier Sundays, a plank of wood would span the bath to allow two more to take a seat during the service! A question was raised over noise; were the services disturbing the neighbours? Fears were allayed when it was realised that on one side of 38 Caellepa was an old lady, who was deaf, and on the other side, students. After the English service on a Lord’s Day morning, Dave and Hugh would often encourage folk to stay for lunch. Mince in gravy, served with rice, was all that the budget would stretch to. One particular Sunday morning, so many stayed back for lunch that Messeurs Michael and Norbury realised there wouldn’t be enough! A cunning plan was devised.