Heading to Huddersfield
Rev. Lewis Allen, his wife Sarah and five young children are leaving West London to set up an evangelical church plant in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. The town, of nearly 150,000, is the tenth largest in England, and is situated between Bradford and Manchester.
Huddersfield has a large student population, a thriving music and arts industry, and an above-average number of residents from ethnic minorities. The largest of these is of Pakistani origin, accounting for nearly 9 per cent of Huddersfield’s population. Church attendance is far below the national average.
While there is already a strong evangelical presence, Rev. Allen believes that there is a need to supplement Christian witness in the town. He said, ‘Under God we seek to establish a church which is true to reformed and evangelical convictions, bringing the gospel to local residents and the student population. Our vision is to be the Lord’s instruments, as he builds a church for his glory that will have an impact on the town and beyond’.
Rev. Allen, who has been pastor of Gunnersbury Baptist Church, Chiswick, since 1998, said that he and Sarah had been actively seeking the Lord’s will for their lives, and offering themselves for church planting work in the north since 2009.
He added: ‘Through prayer and research, and after discussion with church leaders in West Yorkshire, the Lord has confirmed to us his call to Huddersfield. Our church has graciously shown its support to us in this move, and ministry colleagues have been enthusiastic’.
More details, including ways to support this venture: http://fromheretohuddersfield.wordpress.com
