Church History

The Church has been in existence since before 1907. It was first formed as a Sunday School work within Old Ocklynge Road and was known as ‘Ocklynge Road Gospel Hall’.

In January 1907 the work moved to the present premises and became known as ‘Victoria Gospel Hall’. Since its inception it has sought to spread the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. Following the Second World War the Gospel Hall moved towards becoming an Independent Church and

joined the FIEC (a grouping of more than 450 similar Churches located across the Country). In the late 1970’s the Church was at a low ebb, but it was partly through its children’s work that new people joined and the fellowships numbers increased and kept the Church from closing.

We praise God that today the work still goes on and we have much to thank God for and that the ‘Good News’ of salvation through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is still being preached. 

Missionaries sent out from the Church.

During 1906/07 Mr Charles Wilson went out as a missionary from the Church with his wife, May, and their two daughters Grace and Kate to serve in China where their work was greatly used of the Lord. However, his health declined rapidly when they were interned in a POW camp during the years of WW2. They returned to Eastbourne soon after the war and he died in 1949. Mrs Wilson kept in touch with believers in China and regularly wrote reports about the work for the Church until her home call in 1960.

In 1949, Miss Madeline Rix, who had been a member of the Church for 10 years went to train at the Lebanon Bible College, Berwick on Tweed and was financially supported by the Church with special collections. Following completion of her training she went as a missionary to Portuguese Guinea, returning on her first furlough in August 1957. She returned the next year to continue serving the Lord before her next furlough in October 1963. She returned to Portuguese Guniea once again after a farewell service in July 1964. There was increased giving for her support right through to October 1968. She died in 1970.

In 1956 Mr Roy Page who had been working in the Church with a boys group, went to Morlands Bible College. It is believed he married whilst at Morland College and Church records registered his wife Wyn being received into membership in 1959. They then went to Nigeria with SIM in June 1961 returning on furlough in 1965, before returning back to Nigeria in 1966. The Church generously supported them and sent a gift to help him buy a car on their return to Kaduman in Nigeria. The Church also took out an endowment policy to help with his retirement.