About The Naunton Lane Evangelical Presbyterian Church
We are a new church in town, worshipping together since 2002. Since that time, we have welcomed people of all ages and nationalities into our fellowship. We make a special effort to be understood by everyone; from the mature Christian to the person who has never been to church. Whoever you are, wherever you are on your spiritual journey; we invite you to come and visit us.
Cheltenham is a member congregation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England & Wales (EPCEW). The denomination consists of nine Churches and one church plant/mission church. Information about each of these churches can be found by visiting the EPCEW web site. You can do so now by clicking here.
Services
Sunday Morning Worship 10.30am > Sunday Evening Worship 6.30pm
Sunday School
A Sunday School meets during the second half of the morning service and there is a crèche available with an audio link to the service.
Fellowship Events
Family Gatherings
We meet together on occasions for BBQs, walks and informal ‘get-togethers.’ This is a time for everyone - from the youngest to the oldest when we can have fun and get to know each other better. This enables us to support one another and thereby ‘bear one another’s burdens.’
Men's Bible Study
Every fortnight, men of the church meet in each other’s homes for a time of bible study and fellowship. Periodically we enjoy a variety of other activities together including canoeing down the River Wye, watching Gloucester Rugby Club and sampling the delights of various take aways!
Women's Bible Study
The ladies meet together in homes on a Friday evening once a month and share a meal followed by a short Bible study and discussion.
Football Fellowship
We meet for football fellowship normally on the
third Saturday of the month at 10am in Bentham Country Club for a time of football, fellowship and a short message from God’s Word. You can ring us to check the date and time. For contact details please click
here.
Weekly Prayer Meeting
Weekly prayer meeting on Thursdays from 7:45 - 9pm
Cotswold Bus Tour
Friends of the church went on a 'mystery' bus tour around the Cotswolds one Saturday in August. The Lord blessed us with lovely weather. Here we are at Coaley Peak viewpoint.
Church History
The EPCEW invited the Rev. Tim Horn to come over to England with his family from their home in the USA to help start churches. In 2001, they moved to Cheltenham to begin the work. Thankfully, another family with a presbyterian background, the Johnston's, had moved to the area about the same time. Through mutual Christian friends, they met one another and began praying together with the hopes of beginning a church. In April 2002, they decided to begin holding public worship services in a local school.
The first service had 35 people in attendance as many Christian friends from other local churches came to show their support. However, reality soon set in and there were many Sundays where there were only Horn's and Johnston's. Over time, people began to trickle in and the numbers grew.
Today, the morning worship averages around 50 people in attendance. In it's short life, the church has developed ministries to children, men, women, and university students. In 2008, the church had grown to the point that it could support a pastor, and Rev. Andy Young was called to take over the pastoral duties. It was sad to see Tim Horn and his family leave, but he was called to get the church started to the point where it could support a British pastor. God has been faithful to build His church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18)!
In June 2009 the church relocated to Naunton Lane Evangelical Church having been invited to take over leading the ministry there and following unanimous votes by both memberships the church name was changed to Naunton Lane Evangelical Presbyterian Church in November 2010.
Read more about our church history >
Statement of Faith
We believe there is one true God who exists in three Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the full divinity and the full humanity of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. He is the fullest and final revelation of God to mankind, having two natures in the one person forever of faith and life. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and mankind.
We believe the Bible is the written Word of God and is our infallible and divine authority in all matters of faith and life.
We believe that all people are sinners and are alienated from God.
We believe that salvation is God's action alone, who sent His Son, Jesus, to be punished for the sins of His people.
We believe the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sinfulness and gives us new life so that we might repent of our sins and have the faith to believe that Jesus died and rose again for us.
Doctinral Commitment
The EPCEW holds as its confession the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF), which was drawn up at Westminster Abbey in London at the request of Parliament in the 1640's. The WCF and its related Catechisms (Larger and Shorter) have been the standard confession of faith for Presbyterians all around the world ever since the Church of Scotland first adopted it in 1647.
Continue reading our Statement of Faith >
