:: History ::

1984 - 1989 Revd Peter Sibley was licensed as team vicar of St Barnabas, Cheltenham. He came with a specific vision for church growth and extension. In 1987 the Rowanfield Congregation was planted and by

1989 St Barnabas was once again packed to capacity. The Gloucester Diocese considered various locations for a new plant eg. St James Church...

1990 - On the first Sunday of the year, after over two years of waiting, about 20 individuals started to worship in Glenfall School.

1991 - The Bishop of Gloucester decided not to recognise Glenfall Fellowship as part of the Church of England. A small team visited Addis Ababa to make a video of the IHA-UDP development project.

1992 - Glenfall Fellowship became affiliated with the Federation of Independent Anglican Churches (FIAC) which had very recently been established by Bishops David Pytches and Brian Skinner.

1993 - Slow but steady growth in the congregation. Another small team visited Addis Ababa to make a second video of the IHA-UDP development project.

1994 - Sunday morning congregations are often in the order of 130 adults and children.

1995 - Glenfall's first and only full-time paid employee was appointed as '20 Plus Facilitator'; Helen Maynard initiated a monthly multimedia service "Aroma" for all young Christians in Cheltenham. Glenfall Fellowship shared with all the other churches in Charlton Kings in a Pentecost open-air praise party which attracted several hundred people.

1996 - Graham Cooke (author of "Developing Your Prophetic Gifting") helped the church produce a Vision Statement. Helen moved on and Paul Northup took over with a new vision for engaging with those once involved in church youth groups. "The Freehouse" was started in a pub skittle alley and within a few months had grown to a group of over 40 regulars.

1997 - Individuals and groups of young people went out to serve the Lord on short-term assignments in France & Spain, Israel, South Africa, China, USA & Canada. Glenfall Fellowship's website was launched on 14/10/97 and became the first church website in Gloucestershire!

1998 - The Freehouse led by Paul Northup became independent under a Council of Reference and Fuzzy started meeting on Wednesday evenings in St Luke's in the centre of Cheltenham. Tracey Kay was employed two evenings each week to work alongside of Cheltenham Youth for Christ in the Whaddon area.

1999 - Jonathan Stott was employed as Assistant Leader with a special emphasis on running the Alpha course and guest services. Glenfall's Trust Deed was established and the inaugural meeting of Trustees held on 22/11/99. For the first time Glenfall Fellowship hosted the annual 'Songs of Praise' service for Charlton King's churches.

2000 - Eleven people in two groups went out to the IHA-UDP in Addis Ababa; the first group supporting a conference and the second making a fund-raising video. The accumulation of school equipment combined with lack of storage space of church PA equipment, led to the relocation of Sunday services from Glenfall School to St Edward's Junior School still in Charlton Kings.

2001 - The Church Council appointed Jonathan Stott as Assistant Leader (full-time employee). A mini-bus was purchased for the IHA-UDP in Addis Ababa. Steve Cahill's black and white photographs of Ethiopia were exhibited at Dean Close School.

2002 - Our vision statement was re-focussed as "Freely giving..." Glenfall people became more involved with the wider community for example, Steve Corless became chair of the Charlton Kings inter-church group, Keith Holland joined the 'CK2000 Project' and Chris Hughes as our link to the 'MediaMarch'. As part of Jeremy & Michelle Niblett's training at Redcliffe College, they were seconded to work for Glenfall and their first task was to organise the annual IHA-UDP conference. In a break with the usual venue at Oxford, the conference was held at St Edwards School and was supported by over 40 delegates.

2003 - After a year of training at Redcliffe College, Jeremy and Michelle Niblett finally left Glenfall on 13th July to serve as teachers at a Christian school in South India. A large contingent joined the annual pilgrimage to New Wine. Jim Wallis, who is incidentally married to the "real" vicar of Dibley, gave a series of powerful reflections on social justice including questions about the US-led "war against terrorism".

2004 - Jember Teferra invited Glenfall to attend the inauguration of the Institute for Urban Workers in Addis Ababa and our representatives were Arthur & Margaret Champion with Ben Booth. Revd Dr Nigel Scotland had planted Glenfall in 1990 and after leading for 15 years, he handed over to Jonathan Stott who had been gradually taking on greater responsibility. During the last of his annual visits, Bishop David Pytches ordained Jonathan as Glenfall's new leader whilst oversight was transferred to Revd Canon Mark Bailey at Trinity Church, Cheltenham. In the autumn, Glenfall said goodbye to Glenfall's founder members Derek and Lori Lee as they retired to go and live in Atlanta, Georgia.

2005 - Glenfall began the year by sending out Andy Castro with a blessing as he set out to conduct language surveys for a Christian organisation working in South East Asia. Frank Booth attended a conference in Israel. In view of Glenfall's new relationship with Mark Bailey, our Leadership Team began to explore the long-term options for oversight. Gradually the whole church became drawn into prayerful consultation over the future.

2006 - Early in the year Jonathan, the trustees, Leadership Team and Church Council came to the conclusion that Glenfall should make a formal link with Trinity Church and ultimately reintegrated into the Church of England.