The Denomination – History

The Apostolic Church itself grew out of the 1904-5 revival in Wales, which is commemorated on the foundation stones of its Headquarters church at Penygroes, Dyfed, South Wales. This revival brought about a return to a previously neglected dimension in church life, namely the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in spiritual gifts for the enrichment of the church. In 1907-8 this outpouring of the Holy Spirit spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

This experience led to a further revelation of truth and a vision of a restored Apostleship and Prophets together with other Ascension Ministries of Ephesians 4 v 11: “It was he (Jesus) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.”

It was this vision of Apostolic doctrine that gripped the first leader of the fellowship, Daniel Powell Williams, who in 1913was ordained as an Apostle in the Body of Christ.

Believing that the Church ought to resemble the Church of the New Testament, the Apostolic Church seeks to reflect the Church of the first century embracing Apostolic doctrine and submitting to Apostolic government.

The scriptural support to which it appeals and on which it is founded is:
Acts 2 v 42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
1 Corinthians 12 v 28: “And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.”

Ephesians 4 already quoted above continues with the aim of the church: “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we shall no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

The current vision of the Apostolic Church in Sanvey Lane, Aylestone, Leicester is to build a Church based upon the four pillars of Acts 2 v 42 being the apostles doctrine (God’s Word), fellowship, breaking of bread (a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ) and prayer.

Our style of worship is free and open and based upon the premise that Christianity should be enjoyed and full of life. We want to fulfil the great commission and the great commandment to share the good news of salvation from sins through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, to love God and to love our neighbour.