CGH

John Beer lived at Vobster in St Edmunds Farm as a tenant of Mells Park estate (then owned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer -  William McKenna). He drove a horse and cart to Devizes in 1920 to pick up the second-hand sections of an ex-war Camp Hut, which the War Department was selling off. He brought it back to Coleford and set it up on its present site. The journey must have taken him at least two days! He and his wife were in fellowship in those early years, and their children Harry, Roland, and Goldsworthy attended. John Beer moved to Oldford, Nr. Frome but Harry Beer continued as the tenant of the farm. He had four children: John, Michael, David & Joy. (David Beer had a son, Tim Beer, who is now serving the Lord in Zambia as a missionary.)

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Missions

In 1925, Harry Beer purchased a small plot of land opposite the old corrugated iron hall to build a more permanent building, but this fell through because of the 1926 general strike. These events made The future uncertain, and some had to move from the district to find employment. However, the assembly used the plot of land as the location for tent missions. As far as can be recollected, the following missions took place: -​

 

• Garner Thomas - Early 1920's

• Mr Hindmore - Late 1920's or early 1930's

• Jimmy Hodgson - 1932 (see picture)

• David Hyslop - 1946

• As a result of this last mission, three were baptised:-

• Treacey Nicholas, Nancy Collier and John Beer. The baptism took place at Trowbridge Gospel Hall.

• David Hyslop - 1947

 

A mission was held in the Temperance Hall in the 1920s by an unknown evangelist, and a number professed salvation, including Leonard Collier and Minnie Nicholas. (She was baptised shortly after the birth of her daughter Treacey Nicholas and continued in fellowship until being called home at the age of 99 in the late 1990s). Leonard Collier later said that after his conversion, he walked up through the village as if walking on air! He also said that he was preaching in the open air within a week or so. A group of the brethren would ride their bikes on a Saturday afternoon to neighbouring villages to preach the gospel.

 

Also, in what is now Mendip Vale (next to the Old Oak tree in what was then a field), during June or July of 1970, David and Eileen Willcox (Counties Evangelistic Worker for Somerset) held a tent mission for two weeks. In Rush Ash Farm's garden, then owned by David and Shirley Cooper, Ray Mead and Geoff Bennett from the Frome Gospel Hall held a tent mission for one week in 1973. In 1975, David Wilcox held a tent mission, this time on the sports field (on the site of the present floodlit sports facility).

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Sunday School

Sunday School has been run from the earliest days of the assembly. During the 1930s, the attendance was approximately 100. Minnie Nicholas was a Sunday School teacher and had 12 girls in her class at this time. It must have been difficult coping with such high numbers in the small corrugated hall.

 

The Sunday School has continued with only a short break in the late '60s and early '70s. Each year from 1970 - 2014, an annual S.S. outing took place, including many villagers. The destination was Swanage (one year also to Brean Sands, another to Sandbanks, and another to Weymouth). Each year since 1971, the weather has been fine for the children despite the rainy starts at Coleford!

 

Children's Missions

Since 1970, an annual children's mission has been held each year in early October. Various evangelists have assisted with these, including David Willcox, Ray Mead, Clive Williams, John Baker, Sid Mountstevens, Jim McMaster, Robert Plant, Steven Baker, Gordon McCracken, and David Loveridge. Also, in February since the late 1990s, a Holiday Bible Club has been held with similar help from various evangelists and local brethren and sisters.

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Carers and Toddlers

Since 2004, a carers and toddlers group has been held every Thursday during school term time from 9.00 a.m.

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Outreach Generally

During the 1970s, a monthly Saturday night outreach meeting took place, showing a Christian film or inviting various evangelists. As a result of these activities, various young people were converted to the Christian faith.

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At various times, young people's meetings have been conducted on weeknights. Presently, meetings take place on Fridays, as announced.

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Weekly Gospel meetings continue to be held, and literature distribution takes place periodically in Coleford and the surrounding villages. In December, attractive annual calendars for the next year with pictures and Bible texts are distributed.