Members at Claremont and Crowmoor Baptist have decided to join forces under the working title of Shrewsbury Baptist Church. Claremont is one of the oldest Baptist churches in the UK, having been founded in 1620. It is based in the centre of Shrewsbury. Crowmoor was a Claremont plant (established in 1976) on an estate to the east of the town. Although the churches had close links, they had grown apart in recent years. But after the Claremont building became unfit for use, the two churches agreed to have a trial period together and started to meet at Crowmoor. The move went well, and with input from the Heart of England Baptist Association (HEBA), they decided to forge a closer partnership. 

A service of celebration to commemorate the coming together took place last Sunday. Claremont minister the Revd Charles Crosland will minister to the new church (Crowmoor was without a minister). 

He told The Baptist Times, ‘It occurred to us that we could get much further by becoming one church. 

‘There is great joy about this move. Our work will be about reaching out. ‘There is no doubt that we have been blessed and called to build a new church, not for club members, but for those who are not yet Christians.’ 

Mr Crosland said a ‘key part of God’s vision’ is that the church will continue to operate in both locations. The congregation will meet at the Crowmoor site – which has excellent facilities for community uses - for Sunday services. In the town centre the church would like to build a new building, on the current Claremont site. 

HEBA regional minister, the Revd Adrian Argile, helped facilitate the amalgamation. He said, ‘I welcome the coming together of the two churches. ‘There are few good examples of town centre or city centre thriving churches and this amalgamation is a positive initiative to bring a strong, flexible and resourceful witness to the centre of Shrewsbury and to one of its suburbs.’ 

By PAUL HOBSON 
 
(Article courtesy of THE BAPTIST TIMES. Click here for so much more!)