History

In the Spring of 1932 a group of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ met to discuss the formation of a new evangelical Christian fellowship in Minehead. They had limited resources and no premises in which to meet but they had faith that God honours those who follow his leading. Within a short time regular Sunday services were being held in the local Women's Institute Hall. For the next few years that was the "home" of what was then known as "Millbridge Evangelical Mission".

By 1934 the prospect of building their own premises was being considered and in October 1936 the opening ceremony for the current church building in Parkhouse Road was held.

It wasn't until 1943 that the first Pastor, Rev A. J. Brown, was called to the fellowship. Since then God has brought the following Pastors to Millbridge: Rev D. M. Russell-Jones (1946-1948), Rev F. A. Hart (1948-1956), Rev A. V. McCandlish (1956-1968), Rev Morris Bird (1968-1981), Rev Patrick Hawes (1982-1988), Rev Ray Geale (1988-1994), Rev Tim Gill (1994-2003), and Rev Matthew Cottington (2006-2021).

In many ways it's unfair to only mention the pastors by name as the church is really all the people. Of these there are too many to mention who have given themselves over the years to God's work at Millbridge. Most of all, Millbridge is a testimony to the grace of God who has been the real power behind it all from the beginning.

Millbridge Today

Today the church is a mixture of young and old. We are eager to bring the love of Christ to the people of Minehead and the surrounding area.

We regularly support three mission workers elsewhere. Lloyd & Katherine Porter (OM, Australia), Wycliffe Bible Translators in Africa, and Robin & Muno Asgher (Church Planters, Cranford, London).

We welcome all people to join us for worship on Sundays and also at our midweek meetings. If you are interested in finding out more about Christianity, or if you have any needs we can support you through, please contact us. Feel free to inform us of any prayer requests you may wish to share.

"Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31).

What Does "Evangelical" Mean?

The word "evangelical" comes from a Greek word which is used often in the Bible. This word means "good news". When we call ourselves "evangelical" we are saying that we believe God is "good news" for the world.

What We Believe

Jesus is God. He came to this world to live, die, and rise again for us. Through his life, death, and resurrection Christ has entered into our human story, has taken away our sin, has brought us back to God, has given us new life, and is remaking the world through love.

We believe this salvation is an entirely free gift from God, given to us through Jesus Christ.

As Christians we live our lives in the light of what Jesus has done for us. We believe the love of Christ shapes the future of the world, and as followers of Jesus we desire to show this same sacrificial love to all people and share the hope Jesus has given us.

We believe the Bible is the message of God to us, telling us about Jesus Christ. We believe that Christ transforms our lives and our communities in wonderful ways. We look forward to Jesus returning one day to make everything new and even raise the dead.

Our mission as a church is to celebrate and share the love of God.

Basis of Faith

1. God

There is one God, who exists eternally in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is unchangeable in his holiness, justice, wisdom and love. He is the almighty Creator; Saviour and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to his sovereign will for his own glory.

2. The Bible

God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice.

3. The Human Race

All men and women, being created in the image of God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. Their greatest purpose is to obey, worship and love God. As a result of the fall of our first parents, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men and women are without spiritual life, guilty sinners and hostile to God. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and needs to be born again, forgiven and reconciled to God in order to know and please him.

4. The Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught with authority and all his words are true. On the cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing God’s punishment for their sin, redeeming them by his blood. He rose from the dead and in his resurrection body ascended into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all. He intercedes for his people in the presence of the Father.

5. Salvation

Salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace and cannot be earned or deserved. It has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ and is offered to all in the gospel. God in his love forgives sinners whom he calls, granting them repentance and faith. All who believe in Christ are justified by faith alone, adopted into the family of God and receive eternal life.

6. The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply his work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers, brings assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship, service and mission.

7. The Church

The universal Church is the body of which Christ is the head and to which all who are saved belong. It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for the worship of God, the preaching of the Word, the administering of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; for pastoral care and discipline, and for evangelism. The unity of the body of Christ is expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel.

8. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper have been given to the churches by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is a symbol of union with Christ and entry into his Church but does not impart spiritual life. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of Christ’s sacrifice offered once for all and involves no change in the bread and wine. All its blessings are received by faith.

9. The Future

The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory. He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will be sent to eternal punishment and the righteous will be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in fellowship with God. God will make all things new and will be glorified forever.