HISTORY
In October 1997, a small group of believers meeting in homes felt the Lord calling them to further the gospel in the Middleton, Chadderton and Oldham area, particularly among the totally unchurched and young people, a demographic that the church, historically, has struggled to reach.
Firwood Church held its inaugural morning service on the 2 November 1997 in the foyer of a Doctor’s surgery in the Middleton area. In April 1998, Firwood Church relocated to a primary school based on a large private housing estate in Chadderton, Oldham. Firwood Church continued to meet in the school each Sunday morning for some ten years.
In August 2007, Firwood Church acquired and relocated to an old Moravian Church in the Westwood area of Oldham. Firwood Church now meets at 10.30am each Sunday.
The Lord has truly blessed the work of Firwood Church. We have seen unbelievers turn to him, congregational growth and have seen members called to mission both in the UK and overseas.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Firwood Church holds a Sunday morning service, running from 10.30am to 12.15pm. The service is informal with worship led by the Firwood band. The music is a mix of both contemporary, traditional and Firwood-written songs. Visitors have described the music as modern.
A member of the Pastors’ team preaches and messages typically run from 40 to 55 minutes in length. The messages are normally expository, systematically working through books of the Bible and occasionally thematic (for examples, check our
Podcast).
A café runs after the morning service serving free refreshments.
Firwood Church also runs regular Bible Studies and home groups and has a vibrant youth programme with regular social events.
CHARACTERISTICS
Firwood Church is reformed, by which, we hold that God foreknowing, upholding and governing all from eternity past, chose, before the foundation of the world, those who would be saved (John 6:37-39, Ephesians 1:3-10, Romans 8:28-30, Romans 9:11-18). We believe that God’s election is an unconditional act of free grace (1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Romans 11:5-8, 2 Timothy 1:9) purchased by the redeeming sacrifice of God the Son.
We believe in the guaranteed perseverance and assurance of the saints (Luke 22:31-32, John 10:27-30, Romans 8:30, 1 Corinthians 1:8-9, Philippians 1:6, 1 Peter 1:5).
Firwood Church is charismatic, by which, we hold that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit available to the first-century church (as described in the Book of Acts, Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthians 12-14 and elsewhere in the New Testament) are available to all believers today (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 27-31). We believe that believers should eagerly desire the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1) and are responsible for developing their spiritual gifts (2 Timothy 1:6). We believe that spiritual gifts should be exercised in accordance with scripture (1 Corinthians 12-14).
Firwood Church is missional, by which, we hold that Jesus’ command to his disciples to ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.’ (Matthew 28:19-20) is Jesus’ command to His church today. Firwood Church, therefore, places the highest priority on proclaiming the Gospel, through words and works, in a Biblically faithful and yet culturally relevant way.
If you have any more questions, please feel free to
check our FAQ, or
get in touch!
