Summary History
Late 1950s. Mr & Mrs Len Woodger, who had been maintaining a monthly gospel service in Well End, just outside Borehamwood, came into contact with Mr & Mrs Peter & Jill Masters – he was at that time working for what is now the British Library and studying for the ministry.
September 1962. The Masters were members at Westminster Chapel during the ministry of Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and having a burden to begin a pioneering work in Borehamwood, moved to the town and started meetings in their home. Bible studies were held in the mornings, and Gospel meetings in the evenings. Assisting in this work were Mr Peter Howell and Mr Chris Laws. Attendees came as a result of visitation work, and often comprised those who were dissatisfied with the churches they had been attending.
Autumn 1963. Having observed that other pioneering works fared better where Sunday Schools were started, the Masters and their fellow workers began North Boreham Wood Children’s Mission. Extensive visitation work was undertaken beforehand, and seventy-three children attended the first meeting. This number soon rose to over one hundred. Dr Masters taught the older group and Mrs Jill Masters the younger children. Having been a Religious Education teacher, she started planning a four-year syllabus covering major Bible narratives in an evangelistic manner. This became the basis for her well-known Lessons for Life books that are widely used today.
10th July 1964. At a meeting in the Masters’ home, Cowley Hill Free Church was constituted with a membership of seven. The FIEC articles of faith were used with an added clause on baptism. Dr Masters was appointed pastor, and a treasurer and recorder were appointed. A building fund was also opened.
Late 1964. The work having grown, meetings were moved to the village hall in Well End.
1965. Having found an area of scrubland in north Borehamwood, and finding it to have been incorrectly designated ‘woodland’ by the London County Council, the plot was eventually offered to the Church on a twenty-one year lease for £25 per year. It is thought that the existence of an established Sunday School and community-forming interests were influential in the negotiations. Church members and friends laid the foundation slab, and a timber building was then erected and has stood to this day. Church members fitted out the interior and the work was completed after eight months at a total cost of around £5,000.
28th April 1966. The opening service was held and Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones addressed the meeting, having been interested in the work from the outset. He rejoiced in the opening and encouraged the members to continue in doctrine and prayer in difficult times.
Remainder of 1960s. Meetings transferred to the new building, initially with Sunday School on Lord’s Day mornings with an evening Gospel service. In early 1968 worship services were begun on Lord’s Day mornings.
28th October 1970. Dr Masters informed the Church that he had accepted a call to the pastorate of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London. There was a good degree of unity in the Church at Borehamwood and had other elders who continued to oversee the work.
September 1973. Mr Robert Edwards accepted a call to the pastorate. He and his wife were previously members at Grove Chapel, Camberwell. The formal welcome service did not take place until 28th September 1974, and Rev. Hywel Jones, then minister at Grove Chapel, preached. The manse was erected in that intervening year, and provided a home for the Edwards family. Pastor Edwards continued faithfully as pastor for the next three years.
1977 to 1984. Ministry was provided by the Church Elders and visiting speakers while the Church sought a new Pastor. The work of the Gospel did not stand still, however: much outreach was undertaken to the local community, the children’s ministries continued, and many nursing staff from local hospitals were brought into our meetings.
1984 to 1997. Mr Gary Kopfstein was welcomed to the pastorate on 14th July 1984, when Pastor Jack Seaton and Dr Peter Masters preached. Pastor Kopfstein continued until 1997 and, under his ministry, the Church became more aligned with Strict Baptist ecclesiology. The initial twenty-one year lease expired and the Lord enabled the Church to purchase the site in 1990. A second timber building was added and has been of service especially with the young people’s work.
1997 to 2010. Mr Tom Hill (formerly pastor of Craigie Reformed Baptist Church, Perth), accepted the call to become the fourth pastor of the Church, Dr Masters preaching at the induction service on 4th October 1997. Under Pastor Hill’s expository ministry (often consecutive), the Lord was pleased to further ground the Church in the doctrines of Scripture and the Church was blessed with peace and unity. Pastor Hill retired from the pastorate in September 2010 and removed to Cornwall.
2010 to date. Since 2010, the Church has been overseen by the elders Mr John Armstrong and Mr Philip Hambridge. The Church receives expository ministry from the elders at the weekly Bible Study, and on roughly a quarter of Lord’s Days, maintaining a clear Gospel emphasis. Visiting preachers supply the pulpit on other occasions.
On 19th July 2014, the 50th Anniversary thanksgiving service was held when Dr Peter Masters preached and gave an absorbing history of the early days.