Denomination: Newfrontiers
The beginnings of the church, then called Hedge End Community Church, go back to 1982 when a small group of Christians began meeting for Sunday worship in the Village Hall, Hedge End. Down through the years the church grew and our vision expanded. In 1994 we purchased 3.5 acres of land on which to build. By August 1999 we were ready to hold our first Sunday worship service in our own building. At this point we changed our name to King’s Community Church.
By the spring of 2006 our hall, which seats 450, was full most Sunday mornings and so in October 2006 we started two services to accommodate further growth. This involved many more people in serving, which they did enthusiastically! The church was able to continue growing whilst remaining friendly and welcoming.
For many years, however, we had dreamed of gathering a thousand or more people to worship each week. So in 2008 we were able (after years of prayer!) to buy some more land for car parking and submit our plans for a new 1300-seater auditorium.
We had our first Sunday meeting in the new auditorium in July 2011. After five years of being in two services it was great to meet as a whole church again, with capacity to keep growing. With the new auditorium we also have a Youth room, Crèche, Reception and offices. The building work has been financed by a bank loan and by members’ giving.
At the same time as starting the building project, we were also captured by a vision to be more engaged in mission wherever our people live, work and play. We were no longer just a “Hedge End church” but found ourselves drawing people from across Southampton and the Solent area.
So in September 2010, after a year of seeking God and praying in neighbourhoods we began to launch Missional Communities across the region. These are mid-sized groups that are small enough to share a common vision, yet large enough to do something about it.
We also have a long history of working overseas – Martyn Dunsford’s first trip to Germany was in 1983, since which time we have served God’s people in over 60 nations.
A harrowing visit by Martyn and his wife Gaynor to post-communist Romania spurred us to do something practical about the plight of orphans and street children. This led to the formation of CRY in 1992 – a charity which is providing care for disadvantaged, destitute and suffering children in more than 15 nations.
In 1995 KCC joined the New Frontiers family of churches, developing relationships across the UK and around the world. We are now part of the Catalyst network within New Frontiers.
We are also members of the Evangelical Alliance and Southampton Christian Network.
By the spring of 2006 our hall, which seats 450, was full most Sunday mornings and so in October 2006 we started two services to accommodate further growth. This involved many more people in serving, which they did enthusiastically! The church was able to continue growing whilst remaining friendly and welcoming.
For many years, however, we had dreamed of gathering a thousand or more people to worship each week. So in 2008 we were able (after years of prayer!) to buy some more land for car parking and submit our plans for a new 1300-seater auditorium.
We had our first Sunday meeting in the new auditorium in July 2011. After five years of being in two services it was great to meet as a whole church again, with capacity to keep growing. With the new auditorium we also have a Youth room, Crèche, Reception and offices. The building work has been financed by a bank loan and by members’ giving.
At the same time as starting the building project, we were also captured by a vision to be more engaged in mission wherever our people live, work and play. We were no longer just a “Hedge End church” but found ourselves drawing people from across Southampton and the Solent area.
So in September 2010, after a year of seeking God and praying in neighbourhoods we began to launch Missional Communities across the region. These are mid-sized groups that are small enough to share a common vision, yet large enough to do something about it.
We also have a long history of working overseas – Martyn Dunsford’s first trip to Germany was in 1983, since which time we have served God’s people in over 60 nations.
A harrowing visit by Martyn and his wife Gaynor to post-communist Romania spurred us to do something practical about the plight of orphans and street children. This led to the formation of CRY in 1992 – a charity which is providing care for disadvantaged, destitute and suffering children in more than 15 nations.
In 1995 KCC joined the New Frontiers family of churches, developing relationships across the UK and around the world. We are now part of the Catalyst network within New Frontiers.
We are also members of the Evangelical Alliance and Southampton Christian Network.
