The story behind no.2 Gibson Road.

My short history of Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic UK would not be complete without a mention of the first church building to be purchased, the iconic, no.2 Gibson Road.

As Pastor Sydney Dunn kept services in the bedroom at Holly Road it soon became clear that there wasn’t enough room to hold everyone. At the time Bishop Dunn was working at a factory putting that produced hammers. How fitting for the man God was going to use to pioneer the Apostolic Faith in the West Midlands and help spread the Apostolic truth across the UK, with the support of other pioneer ministers such as Bishop Martin Howard Simmonds, Bishop Arnold George Miller, Bishop Herman D Brown and Bishop Gerald E Edmund, who together make up the Board of Bishops for the Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic in the UK.

One day while at work the Lord spoke to Bishop Dunn while on his lunch break, he recalls the audible voice of God say to him: “go up to Gibson Road, go up to Gibson Road, go up to Gibson Road”. Obedient to the Heavenly call Bishop Dunn rode on his push bike to Gibson Road during his lunch break. He confesses that he asked a colleague to clock his card for him should he be late - so consumed was he by the desire to find a place of worship for God’s people. Bishop fondly shares that his sandwiches at the time were: “salt-fish [salted cod] and cabbage”, in those days the saints did not have any luxuries. They used to eat basic food such as ‘pigs trotters’, Bishop Dunn once said he ate them so regularly just the mention of pigs trotters makes him feel like they are walking in his throat!

When Bishop enquired at Gibson Road he had another brother with him. They knocked on doors to find out about getting access to Gibson Road but no one would answer. The brother who was with Bishop Dunn at the time had ambitions to become the leader of the church, as the meetings were held in his home, Bishop believes that this is why God didn’t allow anyone to open their doors on that occasion. Soon after Bishop Dunn went along to Gibson Road on his own and spotted 2 English (White) men outside talking. When he asked about renting Gibson Road they said he needed to speak with the caretaker and gave him the address. Bishop met with the caretaker who said the committee needed to agree on the church being rented. They met on the first Tuesday of every month, God is so good, as the next day was the 1st Tuesday of the month. The committee passed the motion and since that day back in the 1950’s Bethel United Church has been worshipping at no.2 Gibson Road.

Gibson Road’s Connection with Oneness

The church at no.2 Gibson Road was initially built in 1918 by a Unitarian group. What I find fascinating about this is that the Unitarian’s, who may have held a doctrine similar to Oneness? Would be replaced by the One God Apostolic believers - the True Unitarians (believing God is One not Three).

In the next post I shall explain how Bethel came to purchase no.2 Gibson Road with the help of God, and a benevolent bank manager!