Church celebrates a major milestone!

Steve Harris reports on a special service that honoured the past and looked to the church’s future as Connect Life Church marked the 75th anniversary of its building.

In 1951, the NHS was just three years old, Winston Churchill was prime minister, wartime rationing was still in place and Annie Get Your Gun was big at the box office.

But it was another milestone from that year that was cause for celebration at Caerphilly’s Connect Life Church this February.

Church members past and present gathered in 1950s-style finery to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first ever service at its building, and all God has done since then.

“The actual church began in 1948 when the evangelist PS Brewster held services in a tent marquee next to Caerphilly Castle,” explains pastor Steve Harris.

“A vibrant church was formed as a result and work began on a new building for this growing congregation which was officially opened on 10 February 1951.”

Connect Life had fun marking the occasion at its service on Sunday 8 February, almost 75 years to the day, with several church members donning fifties-style dresses, hats and hairdos, and both young and old helping to lead.

“I even wore a dog collar for my sermon,” jokes Steve.

Four surviving ministers sent in video messages and the family of the church’s longest-serving pastor, John Cooper, attended.

“We’ve had some amazing leaders over the years, starting with the first pastor, Ron Jones, who I remember from when I was a child,” Steve says.

Then, with a joyful blend of fact and fun, retired elder Sid Head brought the church’s history to life brilliantly by capturing it in rhyme.

“We made it a fun event to celebrate our opening, but it was also about looking forward,” says Steve, who was as keen to focus on the future as he was to honour the past.

Over the years, he explains, thousands have attended services, Sunday schools, weddings and youth clubs at Connect Life. The church has also been a faithful witness in its community via outreach, a foodbank, baby and toddler groups and much more.

“The great news is that this work continues. The church is still thriving, and it will be just as vital in the future.

“That’s why it’s great to look back, but also to recognise that we’re the church of today. God is a God of new things, and we need to be ready for all the people He wants to call to be part of our church.

“Our desire is the same as it was when we started: to introduce people to Jesus and His life-changing power.”

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.