Our History

The origins of Poole Christian Fellowship (PCF) go back to 1989 when a handful of Christians began to meet together in a living room. Without any intention to start a new work, after about a year it was realised that we were in fact starting to function like a church.

A caretaker leadership emerged and our first public meetings took place in 1990 in a Day Centre in Garland Rd. in Poole.  This was the venue for our Sunday meetings for a couple of years during which time the congregation numbered 20-30. We continued to meet in each others homes during the week for fellowship and prayer. These were days of small beginnings and refreshing informality.

In the early 1990’s we felt that there was a need for a larger venue to meet. We started to meet at Hamworthy Middle School – a venue which was our Sunday spiritual “home” for a number of years. These were formative years during which time we started outreach into the west Poole community, appointed our first elders, had our first church weekend away together, started a Youth Group and Sunday school, had our first baptisms (in the school swimming pool), set up housegroups and started praying specifically about two things: our own premises, and our own full time worker (minister or pastor). It was also during this period that  one of our elders, Nick May, met Paul Newberry at Spring Harvest, which started a friendship with Nick and the other elders, and ultimately with PCF, and was to have profound consequences for both Paul and PCF. (Paul describes this incident in his book  “Spiritual Fathers” (Sovereign World) on page  107 and in a note on page 117).

In early 1996 we were contacted by the leadership of Poole Evangelical Church, a Brethren Assembly that had occupied premises in Lagland St for over 100 years. After over 100 years of blessing the numbers had dwindled and the leaders of the assembly had taken the courageous decision to close. They were very keen that after they left, the premises should remain a place of Christian worship. PEC had their last meeting at Lagland St   in June 1996 – and PCF moved in that evening. To our delight a dozen or so members of the now  - closed Brethren assembly decided to become a part of PCF, and remain so to this day – with one of their number eventually becoming an elder of PCF.

The building was eventually  purchased outright from the owners for £75,000 and a few years later a similar amount was spent in re-furbishment.  We are grateful that the Lord confirmed the decision by providing every last penny.

PCF now occupied an excellent town-centre location and the building was used for coffee- morning outreach and   a toddler group as well as for regular church events. The relationship with Paul Newberry   developed to the stage where we talked through all major decisions with him and  he and his wife Pat were regular visitors for fellowship and  ministry. Paul was our guest speaker at two weekends away.

From 1999 onwards the elders – all in secular employment – consistently brought to the church for prayer the subject of a fully time worker. A number of options were explored – but the door remained closed. In 2001 Paul Newberry shared with the elders that he felt his time in Maidstone was coming to an end, and that he would be seeking God’s will for the next phase of his ministry. During his sabbatical in 2003 Paul and Pat spent a significant amount of time with the leaders of PCF and the view was unanimously held that Paul and Pat should move to Poole, and that Paul should take up ministry at PCF from early 2004. The elders and church were totally united in this – and Paul Newberry arrived in Poole on 1 January 2004 to take up his position as PCF’s first full-time Minister. Paul and Pat sold their home in Maidstone and brought a house in Poole during the same year.

The following years were years of blessing as the church enjoyed Paul’s ministry and the elders (having so long taken the brunt of ministry themselves) were able to step back and allow Paul to fulfil the role the church had needed for so long. Paul also brought to the church his years of experience as an AoG minister, conference speaker and Bible College teacher, as well as ongoing relationships with  leaders across the UK and around the world. Many were blessed by Paul’s ministry of the word and his loving personal ministry.

The blessing from Paul’s ministry proved to be decisive in the development of PCF, but sadly short-lived as failing health meant that he was out of action for much of 2007. After a long illness he went to be with the Lord in November 2007, just a few days after his 65th birthday.  His funeral was held in Poole at St James Church. His widow, Pat, chose to stay in Poole and remains a  much-loved member of the church.

Paul Newberry’s contribution to the life of PCF was immense, and will only be understood fully in eternity, but one of the  final acts he carried out was to set in motion the process for the appointment of his successor. John MacDiarmid, who had been at PCF since the start, and was one of the existing elders, was  proposed by Paul to the elders as the next full time Minister, and when Paul passed away the elders were clear as to the next step.

John MacDiarmid was put forward to the church as the next full time minister. His induction was carried out by Andrew Parfitt, who had been Paul’s closest colleague in ministry for twenty years in Maidstone, and who continues to have a much valued relationship with PCF.

John MacDiarmid started his duties in April 2009 and  Poole Christian Fellowship moved forward into the next era with confidence and anticipation. At the time of writing the church has an adult membership of 70, with  a total of about  100 in the Sunday morning congregation. The church is overseen by a  team of five elders, one of whom (John MacDiarmid) serves the church full time.

So, Poole Christian Fellowship has finished its first twenty years. They have been consistent with  the biblical pattern of blessing, challenge, joy, pain and encouragement. Throughout it all everyone associated with it have been enormously aware of God’s hand upon us, and his faithfulness in all that we have done. It is with excitement and confidence that we anticipate God’s dealings with us over the next 20 years.

We do not know what the future holds for us but we can say with confidence: "Thus far has the LORD helped us." (1 Samuel 7 v. 12)