Trip to Bristol

A little while ago me and some other chaps popped over to Bristol for a weekend, don’t really know why.

Anyway, not a lot of note happened, but we did visit two very different churches which were well worth a visit…

In Bristol centre we visited Wesley’s Chapel, the oldest Methodist Chapel in the world! We had a look around, saw his study, stood in his pulpit, all in all it was a good experience to see a bit of gospel-ministry history.

We also went to a somewhat different church on the Sunday morning. Not in an old chapel, but in a school. We visited Grace Church Bristol one of a number of Sovereign Grace churches planted in the South-West/Wales.

We received a warm welcome and met with a guy who I remember from CU Leaders training, there was good coffee and a relaxed atmosphere. We moved in to the main meeting room and sang some songs… I was particularly pleased to have sung the song ‘All I have is Christ’, a song from the Looked Upon album which I love – possibly to be played during the signing of the registers!

Nathan Smith, one of the Pastors was preaching through Ephesians (which was good stuff). It was a church where I, as a conservative Anglican felt comfortable and at home. There weren’t any uninterpreted tongues (or interpreted for that matter) and the prophecies which were given weren’t about how the church is going to see revival but clear and simple encouragements for the believers there, which all goes against some experiences and stereotypes of charismatic churches… a gentle and sensitive display of a more charismatic practise. If you’re in Bristol do go and pay them a visit…