The Cambridgeshire Fens rarely make the headlines, despite being close to Cambridge. The Fenland towns are home to a cluster of Grace Baptist churches with a long history and close bonds of fellowship. For many years they have been grouped in their own local association, but this year they made a big decision.
The Association of Grace Baptist Churches (West Anglia), a group of 12 churches, agreed to disband, to transfer management of their trust company to Grace Baptist Charities Ltd, and each church would then consider joining the larger AGBC (South East). This came after a long dialogue with Andrew King, South East Association Secretary, and the Cambridgeshire churches praying together.
As a larger association with several full-time staff, AGBC(SE) is able to take on the trustee responsibilities, but the greater concern was to have closer fellowship between like-minded churches. Jonathan Chell of Ramsey Baptist Church says: ‘Being part of a much bigger association gives us the structures to promote association togetherness as a district of churches.’ Andrew King says: ‘Whilst we are always delighted to welcome new churches into our network, our greater prayer is that these Fenland churches will themselves grow and flourish through our partnership in the gospel.’
