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Chronicles of The Living Hope Christian Church Volume 1 These are the chronicles of The Living Hope Christian Church, how we came to be and some of those involved in it's history 1902, 1910,1923,1953, 1957, 1970's, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, West of the River Hull, a small group of dedicated Christians began to meet in a the front room of a terraced house. The group began to grow as like-minded believers were drawn to the presence of the Holy Spirit. The small town house could no longer accommodate the growing numbers. Provision was made for the group to meet in a jam factory on West Dock Avenue. Over the following years the group relocated to a warehouse, records are not clear as to the location of the warehouse, what is known however is that it was either Bean Street or Regent Street A vacant private school at the Anlaby Road end of Coltman Street became available for rent, The Coltman Mission or The Little Mission was born and remained on the site for the next 66 years.
This photograph of the Little Mission is estimated 1933. The Poster reads: Free
Arthur Westerdale served on the church council for many years. Arthur and many of the early members of the little mission had a background in the Holiness movement and maintained strong connections for many years. This particular photograph was taken on 8th November 1952. Written to the bottom right is John 15 - 16. "You did not choose Me , but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you."
Undated photograph of the church family at the Little Mission estimated to have been taken in the late 1920's
An early Harvest Festival Photograph
1953 saw a new pastor of The Little Mission, Stan Sellars. Stan had been the pastor of the Nazarene Church for four and a half years. He left there and lived in Leeds before returning to Hull. Pastor Sellars worked tirelessly for the Mission for over 30 years and for much of that time continued in full time employment
There followed along tradition of church outings this photograph is certainly from the 1950's although the exact date is uncertain. Stan's friend Ray Barker completed his National Service as a regular in the RAF. Stan asked Ray and his fiancé' Audrey to help him run a Youth Fellowship. It would operate from from Stan and Pyliss's, home a large flat at 38 Coltman Street. Ray and Audrey married, they rented the flat at 38a Coltman Street and continued to lead the youth. Over the years the Youth Fellowship grew at one point as many as 30 young people would meet at the flat. The time came for the numbers to split into two age groups. Stan took the older group on a Wednesday, Ray and Audrey continued with the younger group on a Friday night. Ray also became the Sunday School Superintendent. The Sunday School initially met each Sunday afternoon. In later years this changed to the Sunday morning prior to the 11:00 service. The church hall was used by another church on a Sunday afternoon for their Sunday School. Ray and Audrey Barker continued to serve within the Sunday School until 1981
Stan and Phyliss Sellars
and
In the late 1960's the youth began to meet at the church on a Monday evening led by one of the original Coltman Street Youth, Geoff Burgess (back row 4th from the right in the above left photograph). This group was known as the Monday Night Class. Young people from the surrounding area came along to the group and heard the gospel. In later years the group moved to a Tuesday night and became known as the Tuesday Club. This is an ongoing work that in 2003 is still strong.
The Mission in the 1960's Poster advertising Special Campaign Meetings estimated 1966
Christmas services in the 1970’s at the Coltman Street mission were always very special. A candle lit service with some real surprises, one year the stable scene included a live sheep and a donkey. A talented lady only ever known as Mrs. Jones would help prepare the Christmas décor (she always provided a spectacular harvest festival scene and provided a beautiful flower arrangement at the front of the church for many years). Pastor Sellars had a keen sense of humour. One December in the early 1970’s he was entertaining some of the young people after the Christmas party. He stood in his pulpit and began an unscripted monologue of the notices traditionally given out during the service just prior to the third hymn and the taking of the offering. Pastor Sellars began “Next weeks speaker is hanging in the porch” the young people collapsed with laughter and begged him to do this for real at the Christmas service. He said that he might not do that but he would do something different. This was the start of tradition, rather than deliver the notices Pastor Sellars sang them to the tune of Good King Wenceslas.
Standing room only, the mission 1970's
The 1970's saw the Sunday School work thrive, a number of the children regularly attending were the children of church members and Sunday School leaders, the majority however where children from the surrounding area. Families like the Clark's the Cundill's and the Anson's attended the Sunday School for many years. At least one of these children went on to Cliff Bible College. Each year there were two Church outings to the coast. Sunday School attendance increased dramatically just prior to the Sunday School outing so a proviso was added that children needed to attend for a number of weeks prior to the outing to be allowed to go.
Mrs. Jones relaxing on a church outing.
Raymond and Audrey Barker, stepped down from leading the Sunday School in November 1980 after more than 20 years service.
It had long been felt that the church needed to expand. When the "Doctors" house adjoining the Church 289 Anlaby Road became available for sale it seemed to be an ideal opportunity. The house was three stories and had a basement. The fellowship saw the potential to utilise the house for Sunday School work and as a more hospitable environment for Youth and Community work
This year saw what was truly the end of an era. In February of this year Pastor Sellars left Hull and retired to Swansea. His retirement was not from the ministry as he accepted preaching engagements in his new home. He joined a male voice choir and faithfully served the Lord until his death in 1999. Those who counted Pastor Sellars amonst their friends did considered it a privalege. Pastor Sellars always said that "the best is yet to come." He was not wrong, God had his eye on the little mission and great things would happen in the fullness of time.
Stan and Phyliss Sellars
The Coltman Mission was led by three elders Geoff Smith and two other men who had joined the fellowship in 1975, Ric Thompson and John Fewings. The Tuesday club continued as did the Sunday School reduced in number however and consisting mainly of the children of those attending the church. There was also a Friday Night Youth meeting. Church facilities were deteriorating, 289 Anlaby Road was not the success that had been hoped for. A number of options were considered, spend money to renovate the existing facilities, move to a completely different site or to perform basic maintenance and defer the decision until a later date. The decision to sell 289 Anlaby Road and to seek another site for the church was made.
By April of this year a possible site for the new church building was found in Walker Street, a formal application for purchase was made, however it transpired that the Salvation Army were also interested in the site and were in a stronger financial position to purchase. In November the fellowship considered a site on Linnaeus Street. Less than half a mile or so from the Walker Street site that had been purchased by the Salvation Army. The site had been suggested by the council previously but had been initially dismissed in favour of other enquiries. The desire of the church was to be a community based church that would be active within that community. The proposed site was in an area of redevelopment. The decision was made to sell the current site and buy the land on Linnaeus Street. The conditions of purchase included a clause that building must begin within 6 months of the completion of purchase. The sums were done, current commitments were taken into account and the decision was made to go ahead with the purchase.
April 1987 The Tuesday Club was being led by Mike Franks supported by a nucleus of students who regularly attended the church. Mike Franks, like Geoff Burgess before him had been one of the original Coltman Street Youth (back row 1st right). At this time there were about a dozen young people in regular attendance. A youth meeting followed the Tuesday Club, this was aimed at an older age group. Negotiations for the Linnaeus Street site continued, there was also the problem of what to do with the Coltman Street Mission site.
July 2nd 1988 saw the opening of the new church building at Linnaeus Street. At an Extraordinary General Meeting in October, there was proposed by the Chairman Mr. Ric Thompson, the formal acceptance that The Coltman Street Mission would be henceforth known as the Linneaus Street Church. The basis of Faith, Constitution, Aims and Intent of the Coltman Street Mission would remain. Proposal was accepted unanimously and Linnaeus Street Church was born.
Sixty Six years after a group of dedicated Christians first began renting the old school on Coltman Street the site was sold. The annexe was demolished and the main building redeveloped and sold as a unique domestic property. The Linnaeus Street Church was already limited by its size and an extension to the church building was planned.
The Coltman Street Mission as it originally looked in 1923 and remodeled in 1992
289 Anlaby Road standing derelict April 2002
Work began on a small extension to the rear of the church building. At an Annual General Meeting in April the leadership asked the members to consider how the church had altered over the last six years. It was suggested that the membership consider the possibility of whether the eldership was coming to the end of its ministry. If so the church needed to consider the alternatives and the possibility of the appointment of a full time Pastor. Two proposals were put to the members. 1. Seek to appoint a Pastor. 2. Supplement the leadership team. The meeting was closed for a time of consideration. When the membership voted at a later date the decision was to supplement the ministry team
There were a number of significant initiative's such as the luncheon club were very well attended. The involvement of some of the sudents who attended the church revitalised the youth work and links were made with HYFC. One of the leadership team co-ordinated regular informal prayer groups. Later in the year the leadership structure altered when John Fewings left the church, Ric Thompson and Geoff. Smith continued in their capacity as elders supported by the team of deacons.
Time for change, the fellowship came to the decision that the time had come to consider a full time Pastor. As with any such decision there were those who were resistant to change. Don and Enid Simpson were church members who since thier retirement would spend some summer weekends in their Withernsea caravan. Whilst there they attneded a church pastored by a Northern Irish minister David Purse. Don and Enid spoke very highly of Pastor Purse who came from a Belfast Church known as the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle. This church amongst many other ministries, train Pastors and resourse churches who need full time ministers. Pastor John Thompson was one such Pastor, trained under Pastor James McConnell of the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle. John and his wife Jackie believed that God was directing them to Hull. John had visited the City prevoiusly with a view to Pastirng a local church. He was perturbed when that door was closed to him, such was the calling to this city. that when the call came to again visit the city to meet fellowship at Linnaeus Street, John and Jackie were sure that this was the Lords calling for them. They visited the fellowship and awaited the outcome of the numerous meetings and discussions within the church. After much prayer and debate the following proposal was made.
"This
church puts out a call to John Thompson to be employed
A secret ballot was held and the proposal was carried by 74% of the voting membership
3rd March 1994, Pastor John Thompson became the full time Pastor of the Linnaeus Street Church. Some found the changes difficult and over the coming months some chose to fellowship elsewhere. However God brought others home like Ray and Audrey Barker.
1995
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In
1973 Pastor Sellars officiated at the wedding of his daughter Carol to Paul
Treszise. As the Coltman Mission was too small to accommodate a wedding party
use was made of the City Temple Church situated on Hessle Road opposite Coltman
Street. The original building now stand derelict. The Church relocated in the
1980's to Princess Avenue Hull where it remains to this day.
