Get to Know Us
Our STORY
Original founding
In 1794 the church building in Sutton Bonington was built; the church was planted out of a church in Kegworth. The Kegworth church was part of a network of new churches that sprang into being as people heard the good news of Jesus from a growing Christian community in Barton on the Beans. The spread of the good news in this area at that time was linked with the work of Wesley and Whitfield, and facilitated by the Countess of Huntingdon.
Growing and serving
By the 1820s, the church was thriving, with many new people coming to know Jesus and being baptised through the church’s work. With a growing community, the church sought to be a blessing to the community. Literacy levels were low amongst many children in the village. To address this, the church constructed new rooms which could accommodate teaching facilities, helping hundreds of young people with their reading and writing. Even after the village school began in 1880 the church provided important educational opportunities.
During the twentieth century, church numbers began to decline until eventually, in the 1960s, there were only a few elderly members left in the congregation. It was at this time that God brought a food science researcher and his wife to the University of Nottingham. They loved God and prayed regularly for the church and, gradually the church began to grow into what it is now.
What the church is like today
Today the church continues to support the children of the village as it did 200 years ago with a variety of programmes for young people of all ages.That work has also expanded to supporting students and many of the church members either work at the University or were former students themselves. Members of our congregation come from many different parts of the world. and many have also gone out to different parts of the world to support the global church. The church is committed to the original vision of giving everyone in Sutton Bonington an opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus. The best way to get a feel for what our church is like today is to come along one Sunday and meet us!
What We Believe
Purpose statement
To be a growing community that makes disciples who live faithfully for Christ in today's world.
Vision
A growing community shaped by God's word and empowered by the spirit to love God, each other and our neighbour; and to go and make disciples who live faithfully for Christ in Sutton Bonington, the surrounding locality our schools and workplaces and to the ends of the earth.
Beliefs
- God the Father so loved the world that he sent his Son Jesus Christ to die on the Cross.
- He did this to pay the penalty for our wrongdoings and to restore us to the relationship with God that we were created to enjoy
- By faith in Jesus Christ, and by turning back to God and seeking his forgiveness, we can begin a wonderful new life with him.
- Jesus hasn’t left us alone, He sent His Holy Spirit to help us develop our character so that we become like Jesus, to comfort us and to lead us into the truth of his word.
- We practise believers’ baptism in water and regularly remember Jesus’ death and resurrection by celebrating communion together.
Meet the team
John – Pastor
A long-term resident of SB, passionate about working for the good and the blessing of the local community. Responsible for teaching, pastoral care and ministry in the community. Supports his local sports teams Nottingham Forest and Nott’s Outlaws, and is bringing his boys up to do the same.
John has been the church’s pastor since 2000.
Karen – Assistant Pastor
After a wandering childhood (West Indies/Southern Africa/North Wales/France), Karen ended up in SB and has rooted in here over the past 25 years. She has just finished doing a degree in Theology at St Mellitus College. Karen Loves reading, especially books about the challenge of living out faith in a messy world.
Karen works for the church, as a pastoral worker, caring for those in and around the church community. Karen and her husband, David, are involved with our ministry to home students and host the student life group in their home on Sunday evenings.
Alex – Elder
Alex lived overseas for a good part of his married life. He moved to the area in 2003 (with his wife Helen and two children, now grown up) and found a warm welcome at SB Baptist Church. He has recently retired from working as a project manager overseeing construction projects in the electricity industry. His spare time is often devoted to walking, folk music or good restaurants.
Brian – Secretary
Brian has spent over 30 years working in the petroleum distribution industry and is still going. He is married to Philippa and has three older children. He has a passion for things that keep him young: youth work, exercise, Leicester City, loud music and the occasional beer (The anti-aging properties of beer have yet to be proven, but he is confident that it won’t be long). He tries desperately not to grow up too soon and does a wonderful job of cheering everyone up with the notices each week during the Sunday Service.
Brian is our Secretary, a deacon, and leads the Rock Solid group.
Joseph – Treasurer
Joseph joined the church while studying Food Science at the University of Nottingham Sutton Bonington Campus. He currently works in the food industry and enjoys eating. He used to do lots of sports especially cycling and rowing, but now he much prefers paddleboarding and tractor spotting.
Joseph is our Treasurer and one of the church Deacons.
Naomi – Deacon
Naomi moved to the area to work at the University of Nottingham’s Sutton Bonington campus on cattle health research projects. Outside of work she loves getting outdoors, especially running.
At church Naomi is involved in a variety of different ways serving wherever there is need.
Kirsty – Deacon
Kirsty grew up on the Isle of Man before moving to Sutton Bonington for University. She now works as a Food Scientist for a large snack food production company. Outside of work she loves cooking, but more than that she loves eating.
At church Kirsty is involved in helping things get planned, and you will often find her organising student lunches, and leading prayer meetings.
Elliot – Deacon
Elliot spent the bulk of his youth in Thailand, before moving to the UK for University, where he studied plant science. Since finishing his studies he has worked with a charity supporting students at the Unviersity, and after a few years in digital communications he now works as a software engineer.
Elliot loves a good story and a good laugh. You will often find him behind a computer, writing programmes or trying to keep the church’s IT systems going. He also continues to work with the students through the church.
