Kings Church Horsham began on Easter Sunday, 3rd April 1994 when two churches, Horsham Community Church and Broadbridge Heath Free Church joined together and became part of the Newfrontiers family of churches. Both churches had moved into Horsham in 1984/5 although neither of them knew very much about the other and were surprised to find that God had given them the same vision. The leaders believed God had spoken to them about building a large church in Horsham and then planting churches in the surrounding villages.
In the late 80's and early 90's the two churches got to know each other and often worked together discovering more and more that God had given them both the same work to do. It became very clear that the two churches should join together and pool their resources and strengths in order to do the work better and quicker.
Broadbridge Heath Free Church met in a church building which opened after the Second World War.
In the late 1950’s it officially became the daughter church of Brighton Road Baptist Church. By 1980 the church had grown in membership and had its own leaders. With the blessing of Brighton Road Baptist Church, it became established in its own right and continued to grow. In 1985, having outgrown their building, Sunday morning meetings were moved into Horsham.
Horsham Community Church began when a few friends who wanted to know more about God, met together in the village of Shermanbury. This small group began to grow and for a while, the group travelled to Haywards Heath to meet up with other small groups of like-minded Christians. As they continued to grow, a regular Sunday meeting began in the village of Woodmancote.
While the group was away for a weekend together in 1982, God told them clearly: "Move up to Horsham; establish a strong church and then plant back into the villages". Everyone responded positively, some even moving house, and Sunday meetings in Horsham began soon afterwards. Then in September 1991, obedient to God’s original word to the church, Cowfold Christian Fellowship was planted with about 30 members. This church grew considerably and started a new church in Henfield in 2004.
In 2001, Stuart and Becky Hodgson moved to Wilster, North Germany from Kings Church Horsham and linked with some local Christians to start Ev. Freikirche Wilstermarsch.
In 2002, Steve and Jo Petch moved with a small group of people from Kings Church Horsham to Billingshurst and started Billingshurst Family Church which has grown steadily.
At Kings Church Horsham, we believe there is much more to come and continue to pray that we can play a vital role in seeing churches started in this nation and around the world. |