The beginning of the road
The Bethel Church in Ipswich was established at 33 Silent Street in June 1961, by founding Pastor Bishop Martin Howard Simmonds, and has been at its present Luther Road site since December 1975.
Bible classes commence
Bible classes were held weekly on Wednesday evenings at 23 Hazelcroft Road before we started to hold Sunday services at 6 Primrose Hill and 2 Violet Close, then at the Red Cross Hall in Berners Street. It then became necessary to hire the Labour Hall located at 33 Silent Street, before necessity demanded our move to the more spacious accommodations at Crown Street Congregational Church on lease.
However, establishing our own church building as a landmark for the worshippers, did not take place until December 1975.
When Bethel Ipswich opened five decades ago, the indigenous white people greatly outnumbered the new immigrant membership. Bethel’s ministry has greatly impacted the religious life of this entire community over the five decades.
Appointment
In November 2013 our current Pastor Nathan J Simmonds was appointed which has seen the church move from strength to strength by the grace of God.
A legacy
We are ever grateful for the legacy left by our Bishop M H Simmonds who ended his labour peaceably on 19 May 2019. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
