Menu
Our History
Whybridge Christian Fellowship Church has been serving in this community of Rainham / South Hornchurch with the gospel of Jesus Christ for over 80 years. We are an independent church with a remit to reach out and bring people to faith in Jesus as saviour and Lord. 80 years ago the area was still mostly farm land and no indication it would become the residential area it is today.
The church name of Whybridge came from the Whybridge Estate with a Manor House and a farm that used to be in this location. The name Whybridge is now only retained by the local infant and junior school and Whybridge Church. The area is part of Rainham and our location is well placed amongst houses shops (Tesco Express) food outlets and restaurants and next to a car park. This gives us a good position to work into the area and to be known in the community. To find us look for the Tesco Express on the junction of Cherry Tree and Rainham Road..
Many changes have taken place since those early days and no longer are we a rural area; we have become part of the London Borough of Havering. The church is now situated in a residential area amid a small local shops and restaurants a Tesco Express and a KFC on the corner of Cherry Tree lane and Rainham Road.near by is the local library (South Hornchurch) just two minutes walk away, and a small car park is next door.
Our Postal address is Rainham which is part of a London regeneration scheme to bring Hi-Tech and other business opportunities into the area creating work for local people.
The church was originally planted when a local farmer (Mr James Vellacottt) going to market in Romford realised, under the power of God, that a church work was going to be needed in the area. He took the responsibility to purchase the land and set up a trust (Rainham Evangelisation Trust Ltd) to oversee the setting up and protection of the ministry at Whybridge Church.
In those early days we had strong links with another local church at Cowper Road and London City Mission was instrumental in the planting of this church. Whybriudge Curch has always had an evangelical position and in 1984 the Rainham Trust passed on the on trust responsibilities to the F.I.E.C Ltd (Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches) The church was already a member of the F.I.E.C
Like many churches towards the end the 1900’s we faced falling membership as England has abandoned Jesus and the Christian faith. The building built for a different period in history needed a lot of modernisation and it was becoming increasingly difficult to impact the area. However the Lord has been faithful and we have been able to spend about £150,000 on modernisation of the building and have began to see an increase of people to join with us in reaching out with the gospel. We look forward to the Lord pouring out His blessing.
Why does Whybridge Church have Three Crosses?
In the Bible we read Jesus died on a cross to pay the penalty for the sins of sinners. If they accept His invitation to believe in Him (trust Him as Lord and Saviour) and receive eternal life.
Sinners = anyone who has ever broken Gods standards even once.
Non Sinners = anyone who has a 100% record of perfect living.
The centre cross reminds us of Jesus death burial and resurrection to pay for our sins.
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Each of us have the choice to either believe in Jesus or not to believe in Jesus
The other two crosses remind us of two criminals also crucified with Jesus. Each made their choice.
ONE CRIMINAL – Accepted Jesus and is with Jesus forever.
THE OTHER CRIMINAL – Rejected Jesus and is separated forever and will be in the place reserved for Satan and his angels.
The whole world is represented by these two criminals, either you have accepted Jesus or you are rejecting Jesus. WHICH ONE ARE YOU!
Luke 23:39-42 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”