Our focus and delight is in the sovereignty of God, the Lordship of Jesus Christ our Saviour and the witness of the Holy Spirit to the true and living God. Our testimony is that Jesus Christ transforms lives today setting people free from themselves and sin to serve the living God. We believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the ministry of the word of God among us. Read our Statement of faith.
Part of our mission is to be “a house of prayer for all nations“, which is fulfilled through our prayer meetings as well as through the many cultures represented by those who gather amongst us.
We believe that God intends for the local church to follow the pattern of the early church as found in the writings of the New Testament. There the church is described as being both ‘the body of Christ’ and a ‘temple’ made up of ‘living stones’. The eldership team has pastoral responsibility for the well being of all in fellowship and each person in the church has a particular calling to fulfill as part of the body of Christ.
Leadership. The church is led by four elders – Mike Parting, Paul Moorcroft, Peter Cowling and Dan Towers. The legal entity under which the church functions is The Earley Charitable Trust, registered charity number 283068.
Meetings are open worship, praise and ministry under the leading of the Holy Spirit. Our style of worship is open and all that love the Lord or are seeking after Him are encouraged to participate freely in meetings, whether in sharing from the word, in prayer, in asking for a song or hymn or in exercising spiritual gifts. Holy communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month in the morning meeting.
Church lunch is held (almost) every first Sunday of the month and the whole church and visitors are encouraged to remain after the morning meeting to eat and enjoy extended fellowship together. All other Sunday morning meetings are followed with tea and coffee and the chance to talk together.
History
ECF began in the late 1960’s in a family home where Christians met to seek God and his purposes for their lives.
When numbers increased, school assembly halls became the venue for meeting.
Around 1979, ECF acquired properties on one site at 153 Wokingham Road for family homes and for fellowship use, particularly all main church meetings.
In 1991 the church hall was built on the grounds, where meetings are now held.
See more information here.
History of 153, Wokingham Road
The Victorian house at 153 Wokingham Road has an interesting history. Originally known as Erlimount, it was built in the 1880s for the family of Colonel Francis Weldon. You can read more about this here.