About Us
Welcome to Summerstown Mission! We are a friendly and diverse church family with a strong and saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. You are sure to have a warm welcome!
Meet the Leadership Team
Peter Bines
Pastor
Chris Commander
Assistant Pastor
Malcolm Havell
Deacon
Dave Connor
Deacon
What We Believe
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Baptism
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.
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.
FAQs
Q: Is the Building accessible to people with a disability?
A: Yes! We have easy wheelchair access, disabled toilet as well as an induction loop for those with hearing aids.
Q: Do you have baby changing facilities?
A: We do, they are located in the ladies toilets.
Q: Is the entrance through the cemetery?
A: Our main entrance is just to the left of the main building near the roundabout
Q: Do you have a safeguarding policy?
A: We operate a Safeguarding policy which is available to view on request to the Safeguarding Officer, Peter Bines (see our contact us page). All our workers who work with children and adults with care and support needs are regularly DBS checked
Q: Is there parking?
A: There is parking space on Blackshaw Road that is free on Sundays and evenings
Q: Do you comply with the GDPR / what is your privacy policy?
A: We do comply with the GDPR, so if we keep personal data about you it is governed by our Privacy Notice.
Q: What does the 'Evangelical' in your church name mean?
A: It means simply that God's Word is our final and only authority for what we believe and how we live. See our Statement of Faith for the full details on what it means
Our History
Over a century ago, Summerstown Mission embarked on its transformative journey in a small room on Wimbledon Road, dedicated to sharing the Gospel with the impoverished. Initiated by the daughter of Rev. John Bigwood, the Mission rapidly expanded, establishing a Sunday School and evening service. By 1887, a main hall stood as a testament to remarkable growth.
Set in one of the poorest neighborhoods, Summerstown’s rural landscape was once marked by shared resources and activities. Despite challenges like flooding and dilapidation, the Mission’s resilience endured, leaving an indelible mark on the community.
Through challenges and triumphs, the Mission persevered, with former members spreading its influence globally. From Brazil to Australia, its missionary spirit flourished, a testament to the unwavering faith of its founders and supporters.
Over its rich history, Summerstown Mission has been led by dedicated individuals who skillfully guided the church through challenges, nurtured community resilience by renovating the building and expanding outreach efforts, and witnessed periods of stability and spiritual growth. From modest origins to current initiatives, the legacy of these committed pastors at Summerstown Mission has inspired spiritual development and steadfast dedication within the congregation.
It is the Church’s hope, in every age and era, to continue the rich history of Summerstown Mission through spreading the good news of Jesus to the community
and caring for the believers who make up the Church.