In 2002, the church that used to meet in Hebden Bridge were able to buy the plot of land in Halifax where they believed the Lord would have them build their new chapel. However, the project seemed to stall at that point and as time passed we grew concerned that progress was not being made in the way that we would have expected based on our experience of other similar projects.
Peter Stead, the pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Halifax, takes up the story:
“Part of our testimony regarding the building of the chapel is the way in which the Lord has used Eric Cousins and GBTC on two particular occasions. In September 2004 when funds coming in for the building were not keeping up with the continuing escalating cost I prayed for the Lord to step in and show us the way ahead: asking what were we to be doing, pleading for the Lord to help. As I was in prayer the Lord was already moving, for the next day I received a letter from Eric Cousins to enquire what the situation was with our building project. He was wondering if he could be of any help! Well, he was –for within a few weeks he and Trevor Condy had visited us and advised how we could build for a much lower figure a smaller version of the project. From then on things began to move with purpose.
“By October 2005 with monies raised and the promised of loans in hand, the building was getting near. However we were contemplating leaving out the upstairs portion in order to save £40,000, as we would need to borrow additional funds. Martin Howell and I met with Eric whilst in London and we updated him with matters. He was aghast at the thought of us not doing that part of the building and the Lord used him to challenge us. I still hear his words as though the Lord was addressing me, `If you don’t build that upstairs now, you probably never will!’ The outcome was that the church borrowed a bit extra and we have our upstairs. The Lord has blessed that decision and enabled us to pay back some of the extra loan already.”
2008 update: The Corporation were pleased to hold their 2008 AGM at the chapel, where the facilities and the church's hospitality were thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed.
