Worship at Roding Lane Free Church
OUR COMMUNITY
Roding Lane Free Church has a long, proud history of serving the community of Redbridge. Through the dedication of our members, we are committed to the teachings of Jesus Christ, and are here to spread His message. We are open to worshippers of all ages and backgrounds, and strive to lead all who worship with us towards a deeper love for God.
EVENTS COMING UP
Sunday Services
🇬🇧 10:30 English service 🇬🇧
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18:00 Brazilian Portuguese service
Please come and join us!
Prayer is key to all we do at Roding Lane Free Church.
We offer a number of different services to ensure you can always worship with the community.
Individual Prayer
Dear God,
Everywhere I walk, let it be on your path. Everything I see, let it be through your eyes. Everything I do, let it be your will. For every hardship I face, let me place it in your hands. Every emotion I feel, let it be your spirit moving in me. Everything I seek, let me find it in your love. My dear God, I thank you for this day. I will not ask where I am going. But only to know and feel in the depths of my heart and soul that you are with me. You are guiding me, and I am safe. In Jesus’ name, I offer myself to you.
Amen.
Craft club
Every Tuesday @ 11:00
Bring along what you’re working on, it can be anything crafty! Or simply come and have a go at something new! Plenty of tea, coffee, biscuits and chat, while you craft.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our combined anniversary service.
The history of
Roding Lane Free Church
1934 - 2023
The beginning: In 1933 many houses were being built on the fields between Roding Lane and Redbridge Lane and many new families were moving in.
1934
Mr H. E. Borton of Wanstead built the first building at his own expense and brought together the fellowship which became Roding Lane Free Church. The land was donated by Mr Percy Brand, a Godly and generous man who built many of the local houses.
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Mr and Mrs Borton led the work for the first seven years, helped by Mr. Kensit, the first Secretary, and his son the Rev. Howard Kensit who was ordained as the Minister in 1937.
1952
The war damage had been repaired and extensive rebuilding work was finished. A third hall was built and the entire group of buildings were refaced with red bricks. Mr Brand also gave a further plot of land and the adjoining house (No. 18) to the fellowship for future use by the Pastor.
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During this period the church began to support twin brothers Bill and Tom Barkley who sometimes worshipped and sang here. They were both now involved in Christian missionary work in Brazil (San Paulo and Manaus respectively).
1972-1978
The Fellowship was guided first by Rev. Solle Adamsbaum, a Christian member of Jewish origins who had been leading the youth work during Dr Beattie's time, and then by Mr Horace Woodstock, another gentleman who walked closely with the Lord.
1978
Rev. Geoff Carr, an Evangelist working with Counties Mission, came to conduct meetings including a special mission in September 1978.
2012
Rogerio returned to Brazil on the expiry of his UK visa. After training for missionary work he is now working among the Paumari tribe in Brazil and continuing the Bible translation work begun thirty years ago by Shirley Chapman who has now retired. A wonderful answer to prayer!
1 September 2013
Inaugural service with a group of Chinese Christians who all live in the area and were seeking a new church home for their Cantonese speaking congregation. They were led by Pastor Paul Ng and his wife Paula, continuing on Zoom during the time of the pandemic, until they retired in 2022.
1940
Dr and Mrs Nathaniel Beattie, a local Doctor, Surgeon, Councillor and Christian Pastor, undertook the responsibility of Ministerial leadership.
1939-1945
During World War Two the church building was damaged by bombs and the house next door was destroyed, but the fellowship continued with a full programme of Christian meetings.
1955-2020
About 1955 a young man called Raymond (Ray) Hart was appointed as Church Secretary and remained in that position for 30 years until his job as a very senior manager with Lloyds Bank took him to the USA for 2 year. He was also the leader for Sunday School, which was attended each week by up to 100 young people, and the main driving force and organiser for many church activities, including preaching the Word, leading prayer meetings and Bible studies. On his return to the UK he became our senior Elder. In 2014 he organised, in memory of his late wife Audrey, a new frontage to the church with hand-rails, steps and a ramp to comply with new disabled access regulations. He remained as our Pastoral Elder until he was promoted to glory in 2020 at the age of 89.
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David Walker, a policeman in daily life, became our next Secretary and remained in position for the next 30 or so years. He was an ex-pupil of Dick Fry
(see below).
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During the latter years of Dr. Beattie's ministry Mr and Mrs Richard (Dick) Fry came into the fellowship and he became the youth leader. He was an experienced teacher and had recently started a three year pastoral course at the London Bible College. Shortly afterwards Dr Beattie became ill and retired from his practice and the ministry at Roding Lane.
1980
Geoff Carr accepted the invitation to be an elder with pastoral and ministerial responsibilities, ably supported by his wife Isobel. He also continued his evangelistic role with the Counties mission in many parts of the British Isles. His ministry at Roding Lane lasted for 36 years until he died in 2017. Each year Geoff and Isobel ran lively holiday club outreach meetings which were always based around specific themes and were very popular among the young people. Isobel also ran Juco's and Covenanter groups for young people in the community as well as a very successful mother and toddler group under the title Chattabox, and women's meetings in the church during the week.
2014-2020
English, Brazilian and Chinese: We are all one in Christ and from time to time we joined in fellowship - with translation of speech and song between the English, Portuguese and Cantonese languages.
1942
A second hall was built on the site during the war (1939-1945) and dedicated to the work of teaching the local children about Jesus and His Good News.
1940 - 1965
Dr. Beattie faithfully taught and preached from the Word of God and the church grew to be a blessing to many families living in the area.
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1966
The Rev. Richard Fry was ordained as our Honorary Pastor. The church continued to flourish and to be richly blessed by the Lord during the twenty years of his ministry. He introduced to the church Miss Shirley Chapman, who grew up in Ilford and was now working in Brazil as Christian Missionary with Wycliffe Bible translators among the Paumari tribe.
1970
After prayerfully seeking the Lord's way, a new roof was built over the existing buildings and a modern-style front constructed, giving more space and improved links between the rooms. The cost of this major renovation was largely made through donations from the existing fellowship. At about this time Dick Fry started part-time work with Wycliffe Bible Translators. The Lord was preparing him for full-time role in Wycliffe's management team which he took up in 1971.
21 March 2009
The initial meeting of the group of Brazilian Christians led by Rogerio da Silva and Pastor Marcos, from North London. The service was mainly in Portuguese with translation of Geoff Carr's English message. This fellowship continues to bring blessing to a Portuguese speaking congregation largely drawn from Leytonstone, Wanstead and Ilford.
2013
Michael Virgilio and his wife Cristina now lead the Brazilian fellowship and live in the church manse. Another answer to prayer.
2020-2022
During the Covid pandemic the fellowship, now led by Peter Jolly, continued to share Sunday worship using Zoom, which was ably organised by our Church Secretary, David Walker, using all the computing skills acquired during his years of teaching computing at the Police college. He now enjoys a well-deserved retirement in Scotland but still keeps in weekly contact through the Zoom prayer meeting.
2022-2023
We thank God that, through the generosity of the congregation, the wise management of our finances by Ray and Peter and the skills and efforts of our Brazilian friends, the church buildings have been refurbished and repointed, with new double-glazed windows, lighting, toilets, kitchen facilities etc so they are fit for the next few decades or until the Lord returns!
2023
A new leadership team of deacons has been appointed, with Michael Virgilio (Pastor of the church), David Colinese (Minutes secretary), Hannah Carr (Treasurer) and Rachel Carr (twin daughters of Geoff and Isobel), Jill Kemal (Church secretary), with prayer and preaching support from Brian Robinson and Catriona Martin.
We ask you all for your continued prayerful support as we seek the Lord's guidance for the future of our church and its ministry in Redbridge. God willing, 2024 will see our 90th anniversary.
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PRAISE THE LORD
RLFC STATEMENT OF FAITH
We believe in :
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The Divine inspiration and entire trustworthiness of Holy Scripture and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3 v 15 - 17)
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The unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in the Godhead. (John 17 v 3, 21)
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The expectation of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 1 v 6 - 11)
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The Sovereignty of God in Redemption, Creation, Revelation and Final Judgement. (Colossians 1 v 12 - 20)
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The sinfulness and guilt of all men since the fall, rendering them subject to Gods wrath and condemnation. (John 3 v 36)
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Redemption from the guilt, penalty and power of sin only through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God. (2 Corinthians 5 v 15 - 21)
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The bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and His ascension to the right hand of God the Father. (1 Corinthians 15)
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The necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit to make the death of Christ effective to the individual sinner, granting him repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 16 v 7 - 11)
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The indwelling and work of the Holy Spirit in the believer. (Ephesians 1 v 13)
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The One Holy Universal Church, which is the Body of Christ, and to which all true believers belong. (Ephesians 4 v 4 - 6)
1 1. Believers Baptism by immersion is the only Baptism ordained by our Lord, practised by the apostles and taught in the New Testament. (Mark 16 v 16)