Church 50th Anniversary
We had a great privilege as a church to celebrate our 50th Anniversary on the weekend of 12/13th March 2022. It is a joy to see that through ups and downs God has been faithful to Quennevais Evangelical Church, made it grow, brought new families to church and some people were converted throughout the years.
The history of QEC reaches as far as 1968, when Bill and Mary Edwards moved into 106 Quennevais Park. They had been sent by the leadership of Halket Place Church, who had a vision to plant a church at the west of the island. They decided to hold the Sunday School in the Quennevais school building, and over 150 children attended on opening day. Bill and Mary also opened up their home for Bible studies, and soon after for evening service.
Encouraged by the growth they saw, Halket Place church funded and oversaw the construction of a church building. Construction finished in 1972 and the newly named Quennevais Evangelical Church opened. The building costs, including the land itself, only totaled about 20,000! Money was raised by private subscriptions, furnishings were provided by individual donors, and the project finished completely debt-free. In this, as in everything, the Lord was abundantly good.
For the next 30 years the church members have come and gone, but the Lord has preserved QEC throughout time that time, and has given the leadership strength to stay faithful to His Word.
After Bill retired Jonathan Watson came to be a pastor and Roger Davies after him 2005. Many families joined the church as well, and the Lord has blessed is with a small gang of happy kids who bring an added life and vibrancy to the church. Also during Roger’s ministry church kitchen has been expanded to a much bigger size to be able to serve many people during Fellowship Lunches.
Roger retired in 2016 and in 2020 God showed His mercy by sending us new amazing pastor Leon Coates together with his wife Nataly and two daughters Emily and Sophie. Today we are an unusually diverse congregation, with members from South Africa, Uganda, Poland, the USA, Brazil and Colombia. Many of us are oceans away fro our families but we love our fellowship. We celebrate birthdays together, pray for one another, and enjoy hosting other people at homes. When someone is sick, the ladies are quick to bring food and offer the help. Like it has from the beginning, the church feels like a family, and we love to welcome new people to join that fellowship we enjoy in Christ.
So this is where we are today. And it was so lovely and encouraging to hear all these stories during our church Celebration weekend. Our previous pastors Roger and Jonathan came over to join us for the weekend and encourage us with their words of preaching. Bill Edwards wasn’t absent as he is with the Lord but his lovely wife Mary was with us as she is still a part of our church. What a joy it was for her to be a part of this event, remembering where they started 50 years ago, to see so many new people, families and nations that God has brought together to QEC!
Both days services were finished with fellowship tea, to give people opportunity to enjoy this time longer.
Unfortunately, lots of people were unwell during this time with flue going round, so they couldn’t join us, and that including our current pastor Leon. But for those unwell, we recorded all three services which are available to listen on our YouTube Channel:
As Pastor Leon couldn’t be there during the Anniversary weekend, I would like him to finish with a few words that God put on his heart:
It is such a joy to be celebrating 50 years of God’s work at Quennevais Evangelical Church this year. It has been a privilege to look at different photographs and articles capturing the vision for the work from Halkett place, the gatherings in the home of Bill and Mary Edwards, the building work here being started, and then the on going worship of God and building up of His people right through to this day. Many have come and many have gone, each contributing to the work of God here. Whether past or present members or visitors along the way – we give thanks for your part in God’s work here.
Sadly many, including myself, couldn’t attend the anniversary weekend celebration– many were sick with Covid or other illnesses. But we were pleased nonetheless to mark the occasion, to the glory of God, for what He has accomplished here, and to dedicate ourselves to His service again into the future. There have been so many expressions of support from so many people who played a part in this church over the years, too many to mention all of them and their specific messages. People like Sydney Elliot, Will Williams, Bruce Powell, Phil Sweeting, Daniel Grimwade – just to name a few!
We were so pleased to have Roger Davies and Jonathan Watson with us to be able to remember together what God has done – particularly pleased because Roger can play the piano and all our usual musicians were unavailable! We are thankful to everyone who made our celebration possible. That is a long list of people, including some of those not able to make it to the event. Those with the initial vision for QEC, anyone who has been a part of QEC, past or present. It includes many visiting preachers over the years. It includes Elders, Deacons, Pastors and their wives. But as we heard over the weekend celebrations the thanks belong ultimately to our heavenly Father. He sent Jesus Christ to deal with our sins, to reconcile us to a holy God and unite us with Him and with each other in the creation of His church. “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”(Psalm 115:1)
As we continue to celebrate the work of God here, remembering the past, we begin to turn our attention to the future. We want to encourage the whole church, beyond QEC, to stand firm in the faith. This will continue with our Stand Firm Conference in October this year. Do join us! (more information at www.standfirm.je)
Leon