History

In 1967 the brethren in Dundonald Gospel Hall agreed that ground should be obtained in the fast growing estates of Brooklands and Ballybeen to erect a building for Gospel outreach. The following two years were spent negotiating with the Northern Ireland Housing Trust. They were not kindly disposed to the request. Eventually they agreed to let us have 2.5 acres of waste ground on the fringe of the Brooklands estate which the Assembly purchased. A wooden hall to seat one hundred people was erected.

The original wooden hall

Between 1969 and 1972, commencing with a very small number, there was gradual build up o workers and activities. A Prayer Meeting, Sunday School, Children’s Meetings, and Youth Work were established, followed by a Sunday evening Gospel meeting and a monthly Woman’s Gospel Hour. A big emphasis was placed on annual Camps, both Senior and Junior, with combined numbers of up to 200. The Isle of Man, Scotland, Republic of Ireland and Wales were used as venues. Many found the Saviour. As we progressed more believers from the area began to enquire about the work and some with similar convictions and vision joined us. The main concentration, however was on the Youth outreach. This was the era of Coffee Bars and on Friday nights a full hall vibrated with voices of teenagers from the estates. The Gospel began to have its effect and in ones and twos these young folk were coming to Christ, trusting Him for salvation. During this time we had two special Missions in the Community centre, the Lord really worked and night by night young folk who were hearing the Gospel for the first time were under conviction, many of them professed faith.

All this was taking place at the heart of ‘The Troubles’. The estates were in turmoil through paramilitary activity. There was a great sense of fear which was accentuated by the Province ‘shut down’ caused by the Ulster Workers strike. This brought down the Stormont Government and initiated Direct Rule from Westminster. On one Sunday evening during the Gospel Meeting a bomb exploded in a factory across the road from the hall. The blast went right over the building without damaging it but shattered windows in the houses a few hundred yards away.

The New and the Old

There were now over thirty committed workers and the Assembly agreed that it was time to establish a permanent Fellowship. The first breaking of Bread was held in April 1972 with some other brethren and sisters from Dundonald Gospel Hall Assembly adding to our number.

Brooklands Gospel Centre, as the Assembly is called, grew in the 1970’s and 80’s to 170. The majority did not have an Assembly background. These were exciting but stressful times as New Testament church principles were taught. Mainly because of our stand on the principles detailed in 1 Corinthians 11 and 14, some began to drift away, some more were added, and eventually our numbers fluctuated between eighty and a hundred. In the early days the baptistry was used on a regular basis, however, in recent years it is opened on fewer occasions, but we thank God for tokens of blessing. From the commencement of the Assembly a Ministry Meeting was convened after the Lord’s Supper. In the more recent time a Coffee Break has been introduced and as proved a valuable time for fellowship. The regular teaching  of the Word to the whole Assembly week by week continues to build up the believers in the faith.

The hall today

We extend a warm Christian welcome to visiting believers seeking to walk in ways that please the Lord and witnessing to His faithfulness.

TOP OF PAGE