The historic county of Montgomeryshire can be said to be among the quieter and least populated of the regions of Wales. However, one of the churches in the BUW family that has been experiencing significant growth at present is located precisely in this relatively quiet region of Wales.
We sat down with Rev. Rob Saunders recently, who shared with us some of Welshpool Baptist’s story of growth and challenge over recent years…
While growth is a desire many of us surely have for our church communities, what makes the current story of Welshpool Baptist inspiring is the faith that has also been required to match the challenge of numerical growth.
“Similar to many congregations, we did see growth in our church attendance after Covid-19,” Rob shares, “but this growth has continued and intensified particularly over the last 2-3 years.” Welshpool Baptist has seen attendance almost doubling – now exceeding the chapel building’s comfortable capacity of c.65.
Welshpool Baptist has seen attendance almost doubling – now exceeding the chapel building’s comfortable capacity of c.65.
Rob emphasizes that this growth hasn’t just been a sudden phenomenon, but he believes that it has resulted from years of commitment by the church to the place and people around them. Rather than turning to new outreach methods (although Rob believes there is a place for these!), the primary focus of the church in recent years has been on strengthening their identity as a church and understanding who they are as followers of Christ. Part of this has been understanding the call to reach out to the community around them – as well as a strong commitment to prayer.
Rob shares that long before he arrived, “the church had a strong tradition of prayer – prayer meetings, prayer in home groups, in Sunday services… even 24 hrs of prayer! They prayed about everything, and we continue to pray about everything!”. Rob firmly believes that the blessing they are currently enjoying as a community is therefore first and foremost the Lord’s doing – and not his or theirs as a church.
“They prayed about everything, and we continue to pray about everything!”
Some of these answers to prayer have included seeing new people moving to the area, being drawn to their church, and choosing to stay. Equally, they have also seen those who have lived in the area for a long time who once had past church connections – but for whatever reason had drifted from faith – returning and making Welshpool Baptist their home.
The additional numbers have brought challenges to the church – ones that Rob admits many pastors like him who pray for growth don’t necessarily realise can arise!
A very practical challenge is that regular numbers of attendees can often exceed the comfortable capacity of the Chelsea Lane chapel building. This has meant that the church has needed to get on the move – and meet in venues other than Chelsea Lane. These have included: the town hall, community centres, local hotel buildings among others. However – none of these venues have presented themselves as ideal: with many taking bookings that can take priority over the church.
The additional numbers have brought challenges to the church – ones that Rob admits many pastors like him who pray for growth don’t necessarily realise can arise!
Rob is unsure of what their next steps will be as a church: while their prayer is to find a larger, permanent space to call home, no options have yet come to the fore. This season of ‘journeying’ as a church has been a test of faith, with a need to sometimes ‘embrace the chaos’. Rob expresses, however that he has been “really impressed” with how the congregation has risen to challenges, embraced uncertainty, and maintained willingness to try new approaches.
The church may not be in an “easy” season after experiencing the dual blessing and challenge of growth – but they are certainly well placed for a journey of faith as they continue to seek the Lord for their next steps, one that they pray is growing them in faith and character – as well as in number.
You can find out more about Welshpool Baptist on their website, or follow them on Facebook.