Way back when...

In the Bible, Bethany was a village where Jesus' closest friends lived. That pretty much sums up what we want to be - friends and followers of Jesus Christ working in the heart of the community around Houghton le Spring.

Bethany Christian Centre is a meeting place for people who love and desire to serve the living God, and for those who are seeking to find out about the Christian faith.

The church has been in the town for over one hundred years, occupying different buildings, but standing for the same historic Christian faith throughout that time.

Since the opening of the current centre in November 1997 our congregation and range of activities have grown, but our commitment to the life-giving message of Jesus has not changed.

As part of our Centenary Celebration in 2003, we printed a copy of a letter outlining the history of Bethany, written by Mr Tom Jolliffe.

In the year 1907, as a boy of eight years, I first became acquainted with the Assembly in  Houghton-le-Spring.  We had come from Jarrow to reside at Easington Lane, and as my mother had been in Fellowship in Jarrow Assembly, naturally she sought for like Fellowship in Houghton-le-Spring.  She was directed to Mr Frank Jones, who had a chemist shop in Newbottle Street, there she found that the brethren met for the Breaking of Bread in the two rooms above the shop and the next Sunday Morning we met them for the first time.

In the Assembly at that time, were the following brethren; Mr F Jones, Mr G Welch, Miss Waller, Miss Hissett, Mr & Mrs J Denny, Mr G Lord, Mrs Greaves, Mrs Hockly and Mr & Mrs F Fish.  Being of a curious nature I wanted to know when they had first met.  Mr Jones and Mr Welch were my chief informants and later I got confirmation from older brethren in Sunderland, Gill Bridge Assembly.

In 1903 three young brethren, who were Sunday School teachers in Gill Bridge Assembly, started open air work in Houghton-le-Spring.  The three young brethren, namely, Mr Jones, Mr Welch and Mr David Guyan, prospered in their efforts, and souls were saved, Mrs Fish being the first one, followed later by her husband.  In full Fellowship with Gill Bridge Assembly, they commenced Breaking of Bread Meetings, in the two rooms above Mr Jones’ shop where they continued for a long time.  In 1908 the Hope’s family came from Jarrow, to reside in Easington Lane and naturally they came to Houghton-le-Spring Assembly.  A short time later, Mr Jones rented a hall from the Good Templars in Sunderland Street and the Assembly moved there, for the Breaking of Bread, Sunday School and Gospel Services.  Everything seemed to be going well until a doctrinal question arose.  The majority of the brethren were against it, but as Mr Jones was responsible for the hall the remainder of the brethren decided to leave, leaving Mr Jones in possession of the hall.  For a good number of years the Assembly moved from house to house, but mainly in my mother’s home.  In 1912, they rented a hall in Pottery Yard, and again regular meetings were started, namely Breaking of Bread, Sunday School, Gospel Meetings and Bible Readings.

In the latter half of 1913, the brethren rented no. 3 Union Street and after a lot of hard work, cleaning the place, meetings were commenced and the Lord blessed the work there.  I myself was saved in the year 1916 and several others that are still in Fellowship with us can look back to the day, when we took Christ as our Saviour in the old 3 Union Street hall.

As the years passed it became apparent that we needed a larger place and on 1 January 1932 we moved into our own Hall in Mautland Street.  It was a big improvement from 3 Union Street but we soon found we didn’t have all the facilities we needed and in 1951 we started a Building Fund.  Through to good offices of Mr R Vardy, we secured the land (on which the present Hall is built), for a nominal sum.

In 1965 the building of the new Hall was commenced and on 6 November 1965 the new Hall was opened and a large crowd attended the opening ceremony.  At last we seem to have all the facilities we need and I pray that God will bless us in the future as He has done in the past.  We have a splendid bunch of young people and on them will (D.V.) fall the task of working in the gospel and I pray that God will bless their efforts and that they may see fruit for their labour.

T.E.J