History of Whitby Evangelical Church
The church was formed in 1973. The catalyst was the decision of Rev Peter Brumby to leave Methodism. He had been serving churches in Grosmont, Littlebeck, Esk Valley, Briggswath and Sleights, and many of those who were involved at the beginning of the church had been converted under Peter's ministry.
Whitby Evangelical Fellowship (as the church was then known) first met in June 1973 and Rev John Tindall conducted the church's inaugural covenant service on 28th June 1973. The church initially met at a home in Sleights. Peter Brumby had gone to Spain to minister at an English-speaking church on the Costa del Sol, but was called as the church's first minister in December 1973. From 1974 to 1978 the church met at Ruswarp village hall, and then at Stakesby School and Whitby School, before the purchase of the present premises in Skinner Street. The building in Skinner Street had been previously a ballroom, a bakery and café, and a builders' merchant, and required extensive renovation and alteration. At this time the fellowship became known as Whitby Evangelical Church.
After 17 years service, Peter Brumby resigned the pastorate to take up a wider
ministry in the North of England. He then served as minister at Newcastle
Reformed Evangelical Church. After a three year vacancy, John Winter was
called in 1993 to be the pastor. He had been involved in a church planting work
for the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) in Newton Aycliffe,
Co Durham. In December 1999, John Winter resigned the pastorate, and after a
further three year vacancy, David Magowan was called to be the church's pastor.
Since 1973, the church has seen a steady growth in attendance and membership. The normal morning congregation of around 125-150 is often swelled with holidaying visitors, particularly during the summer months. There is a healthy balance of young and old in the congregation, and various activities cater for distinctive groups within the church family.
May the favour of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17)
I was born in 1965 in Jamaica to missionary parents, but spent most of my childhood in Northern Ireland. In my early teenage years, I realised that being the son of a Methodist minister did not make me a Christian automatically. I needed to turn from my sin and trust unreservedly and personally in Jesus Christ. And that is what I did.
Whilst still at school, I grew in my understanding as a Christian through the encouragement of my parents, youth leaders and Christian peers. After graduation from Cambridge University, I worked as a civil engineer for a short time on site in Scotland, before moving to a design office in Basingstoke, where I was employed as an airport engineer for 10 years, until June 1999.
Elinor and I were married in July 1990. Elinor also grew up in a Christian family, and trusted Christ in her early teens. We have spent most of our married life in Reading, Berkshire, apart from two short periods in Madagascar and Tanzania where I was involved in airport development work. In Reading, we were involved in a church plant from Carey Baptist Church, and in 1995 I was appointed as one of the elders of Coley Park Baptist Church. Our two daughters, Angharad (1996) and Dilys (1998), were both born in Reading.
Throughout this time, we were considering how and where God might have us serve Him, and in the summer of 1998, experienced the strong and clear call of God to full-time pastoral ministry. This call was subsequently tested and confirmed by my fellow-elders and church members at Coley Park. In 1999 we moved as a family to the United States in order to pursue theological studies, and in May 2001 I graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary in California in Biblical Studies, and subsequently returned to the UK to seek a pastoral position.
I feel privileged to have been called to serve the Lord as the minister of Whitby Evangelical Church and pray that I might remain faithful and diligent in my responsibilities, and that I might know much encouragement in the gospel amongst God's people here.
As a church have joined the FIEC and so our statement of faith will be as appears on the FIEC website.
An excellent on-line resource can be found at www.multimap.co.uk.
This can be used to find directions as well as view different maps to find the church within Whitby itself.
The church address is:
Whitby Evangelical Church,
12 Skinner Street,
Whitby,
YO21 3AJ.
I have edited a map of the part of Whitby around the church, to view it follow this link.
Mail the church: admin at whitbyec.com
Or "land" mail us at:
Whitby Evangelical Church,
12 Skinner Street,
Whitby,
YO21 3AJ.