Encounter Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Encounter Church |
|
|---|---|
,_Exeter_Road,_Selly_Oak_(August_2024)_(5).jpg)
The church in August 2024
|
|
| 52°26′30.47″N 1°55′53.04″W / 52.4417972°N 1.9314000°W | |
| Location | Bournbrook |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Elim Pentecostal Church |
| Previous denomination | Church of England |
| Website | encounterchurch.uk |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Wulstan’s Church, Bournbrook |
| Consecrated | 1906 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | John Edward Knight Cutts and John Priston Cutts |
| Completed | 1906 |
| Construction cost | £6,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 713 people |
Encounter Church is a Christian church located in the Bournbrook area of Birmingham, England. It used to be called Selly Oak Elim Church. Before that, it was known as St Wulstan's, and it belonged to the Church of England. Today, it is part of the Elim Pentecostal Church.
Contents
The Church's Story
How St Wulstan's Church Began
The church building we now know as Encounter Church has a long history. It started as a mission church in 1893. This means it was a smaller church set up to help a larger one, St Mary's Church, Selly Oak.
A special event happened on January 19, 1906. Countess Beauchamp laid the first stone for a brand new church building. This stone had words carved into it. It said the church was being built "To the Glory of God and for the benefit of the People of Bournbrook."
Building the Church
The church was built using red and blue bricks. Two architects, J. E. K. Cutts and John Priston Cutts, designed it. They made sure it could hold many people, up to 713 worshippers.
Building the church cost about £5,600 back then. This would be a lot more money today! The church was officially opened and blessed by the Bishop of Birmingham on October 6, 1906.
From St Wulstan's to Elim Church
Many years later, in 1983, some changes happened. The St Wulstan's church in Bournbrook joined with another church, St Stephen's Church, Selly Park.
Around the same time, the building was swapped with another church. This was the Selly Oak Elim Church, which had its own building nearby.
The Elim Church's Journey
The Elim congregation in the area started in 1936. At first, they met in people's homes. Later, they held their meetings at the Selly Oak Institute. This is why they were called the 'Selly Oak' Elim Church, even though their building was in Bournbrook.
Becoming Encounter Church
In 2018, the Selly Oak Elim Church decided to change its name. It became known as Encounter Church, which is its name today.
