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Copse Road Chapel is an evangelical free church. |
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We are
an Evangelical Free Church.
The word "Church"
means we are a fellowship of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, among
whom the Word of God is preached and practised.
The purpose and aim of our church is to worship the triune God, to
strengthen and establish believers in the Christian faith, and to
evangelise the unsaved. The term "Free"
means that this church is not controlled or financed by any denominational
headquarters, but that as a local company of believers we are directly
accountable to the Lord and trust Him to supply all our needs.
We are "free" to worship Him according to His Word and
are not bound by any ecclesiastical laws. The word "Evangelical" comes from the Greek word for "gospel" and indicates that we believe and proclaim the truths of the gospel which are contained in the Basis of Faith below. The Trinity
The
distinctness yet unity of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
(Matthew 28v19, 2 Corinthians 13v14, John 14v16, Ephesians 4v4-6.) The Bible
The
full inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, both Old Testament and New
Testament, their inerrancy and sufficiency, our sole authority in all
matters of faith and practice. (2
Timothy 3v16, John 10v35, 2 Peter 1v21.) Human Nature
The
utter depravity of human nature in consequence of the fall (Romans 3v9-23,
Isaiah 64v6), and the necessity of the new birth (Ephesians 2v1-3, 1
Corinthians 2v14, John 3v3-7). Jesus Christ
The
Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 1v1, Romans 9v5), His virgin birth
(Luke 1v35, Matthew 1v20-21), perfect manhood (1 Timothy 2v5, 1 Peter
2v22), the authority of His teaching and the infallibility of His
utterances (Hebrews 1v1-2, 2v1-3, John 12v49-50, 14v10, Matthew 17v5), His
atoning sacrifice for men by His vicarious sufferings and death (Romans
5v6-11, 1 John4v10), His bodily resurrection and ascension into heaven
(Luke 24v36-40, John 20v19-20, Acts 1v9-10), and His present high-priestly
intercession for His people "on the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens" (Hebrews 7v24-26, 8v1). Salvation
The
justification of the sinner by faith alone, through the gracious and
redeeming work of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on the cross.
(Acts 13v38-39, Romans 3v20-26, Galatians 2v16.) The Holy Spirit
The
necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration (Titus 3v5),
sanctification (1 Peter 1v2, 1 Corinthians 6v11), worship (John 4v24), and
service (1 Corinthians 12v4-11).
The
ordinance of baptism by immersion for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ,
as being a confession of faith, an act of obedience to the Lord and
identification with Him in His death and resurrection.
(Matthew 28v19, Romans 6v3-5, Acts 16v33-34). The Lord’s Supper
The
ordinance of the Lord's supper or "breaking of bread" in
remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ in His sacrificial death until He
comes. (Matthew 26v26-29, 1
Corinthians 11v23-30). The Second Coming of Jesus
Christ
The
personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ in power and great glory to
receive to Himself all those redeemed by His precious blood. (John 14v1-3,
James 5v7-8). The Last Things The resurrection of the body and the judgement of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, with eternal blessedness for the righteous and eternal punishment for the wicked. (Daniel 12v2, 1 Thessalonians 4v13-18, 1 Corinthians 15v12-58, Matthew 25v46, Revelation 20v11-15.)
Copse Road Chapel is an
Evangelical Free Church meeting just a few yards from the seafront at
Clevedon. A congregation of Bible-believing Christians has met here
regularly for over 150 years. Ian Hilder took up the call to be our pastor on 1st September 2003, having previously served the church as an elder for a number of years. Born in 1952 in London, Ian studied for his degree in biochemistry at Bristol University from 1971 to 1974, and a PGCE at Bath University in 1975. He was brought up to go to church, but rebelled against Christian teaching. As a teenager, he was converted to Christianity when he became convinced that the Bible must be the Word of God. Ian taught chemistry at Richard Aldworth Comprehensive School, Basingstoke for 2 years, before returning to the West Country in 1977, where he taught at Churchill Community School until 2003. During this time he completed the Evangelical Movement of Wales training course at Bryntirion. Ian is married to Hilary and together they have 6 children: Peter (1978), Abigail (1980), Paul (1981), Daniel (1984), Jonathan (1987) and Rebekah (1993).
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