A story that began with a child.
The story of Fairlop Evangelical Church goes back more than 90 years.
In the early 1930s, the Fairlop and Hainault area was developing rapidly, with new homes being built and families moving into the area. At that time, there was very little opportunity locally for people to hear the Gospel or for children to attend Sunday School.
In 1933, a group of Christian women began a Sunday School for children in the local community. There was no church building for them to use. So they began wherever they could.
Meetings were held in the open air, including in a field near Hainault Recreation Ground, and later in sports pavilions and other available accommodation. Despite the humble beginnings, the work grew quickly. Within two years, around 100 children were attending the Sunday School.
What began as a small effort to reach children was becoming something much bigger.
Ninety years in three steps.
A Sunday School
A group of Christian women begin a Sunday School for local children — in the open air, in pavilions, wherever they could. Within two years around 100 children were coming.
Fairlop Gospel Hall
A permanent hall is built on Fencepiece Road and opens in April 1934: a place to hear God’s Word, worship, pray and bring the children.
Fairlop Evangelical Church
The same building, more than nine decades on, still used for Christian worship — and still centred on the same message.
Fairlop Gospel Hall
As the work continued to grow, plans were made for a permanent Gospel Hall.
A new building was constructed on Fencepiece Road, close to the developing Fairlop community. The building opened as Fairlop Gospel Hall in April 1934.
The original building was modest, but it provided something extremely important: a permanent place where people could gather to hear God’s Word, worship, pray and bring their children.
The building itself has a distinctive character, reflecting the architecture of the 1930s. More than nine decades later, the original hall remains standing and continues to be used for Christian worship.
Generations have passed through the doors.
Children who once attended Sunday School grew up. Families came and went. Christians faithfully continued meeting together, preaching the Gospel, studying the Bible, remembering the Lord and seeking to serve the local community.
The name of the church eventually became Fairlop Evangelical Church, but the purpose of the work remained centred on the same message — the good news of Jesus Christ.
Some things have not changed.
Today, Fairlop Evangelical Church continues in the same building on Fencepiece Road. The world around us has changed enormously since 1934. The surrounding community has changed, technology has changed and generations have come and gone. But some things have not changed.
- We still believe that the Bible is God’s Word.
- We still believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour.
- We still gather to worship God, pray, hear His Word and remember what Christ has done for us.
- And we still want to be a church where people are welcome.
It began with a Sunday School.
The story of Fairlop Evangelical Church is not simply about a building that has survived since 1934. It is about ordinary Christians who saw a need in their community and were willing to do something about it.
It began with a Sunday School. It grew into a Gospel Hall. And more than 90 years later, the work continues.
The building has changed little. The generations have changed. But the Gospel remains the same.
We look back with gratitude for those who came before us, and we look forward with faith to what God may yet do through Fairlop Evangelical Church.
Come and be part of the next chapter
Sundays at 10am — a Family Service with Communion. Everyone is welcome.