The Brixton initiative began in 1956 with a series of prayer meetings initiated by Bro James (Jim) Tomlin and his wife Ruby, who were joined by S U Thompson at St Stephen’s schoolroom, Stockwell SW9. At that time, they paid ten shillings for rent (approximately £154.00 in 2016 value) per Sunday, for evening services only, with a handful of members to share in the vision for spiritual fulfilment and need to worship.
In early 1960, a fire swept through the church hall at Allardyce Street, leaving the church with no home. Sister Spence, however, came to the rescue and opened her living room where services were held until the church was able to return to the Allardyce Street church hall. Within the membership, were Mercedes Amos, (who held prayer meetings at her home), Rev E Swaby and Mother E Beccon (a lay preacher at the time).
Later that year the Church of England offered the church hall for sale at £12,500.00, a price the church could not afford and therefore had to move out in December 1960. The pilgrimage of the faithful members of the Brixton church continued until March 1961 when the church was able to acquire her own premises at 64 Offley Road, Brixton SW9.
Very shortly after the acquisition of its premises in Offley Road, the church developed an outreach ministry in Catford. Brother and Sister Letts opened their home at 20 Felday Road SE13 for services until suitable accommodation could be found. With the evangelistic and motivating fervour of Pastor Thompson, this group was organised into a church in 1962 with Brother James (Jim) Tomlin and his wife Ruby as leaders. Twenty members of the Brixton church were sent to join them. Today, this church is the Lee NTCG, a very dynamic and thriving fellowship.
In 1970 Christ Church, Brixton Road, SW9 - soon to become redundant, was offered. However, the remaining members through the Privy Council ensured that it became a heritage building. From further enquiries they were advised by a friend of Christ Church that the Lambert Road Church, (an old Church of England building), was in a serious state of disrepair, unused and pronounced redundant by the Church of England; ready for possible demolition. Deacon Hugh I Bair the Chairman for Building, together with Bro Phillip Denton, led and co-ordinated a plan and the church was purchased in September 1977. Its only occupants were a worshipping army of pigeons. Faithful members of Brixton New Testament Church of God under the leadership and guidance of Rev V Nelson, took on the task of repairing and refurbishing the building. Like Nehemiah and his crew, it was brought up to an acceptable standard and was dedicated to the glory of God in February 1978.
The membership grew rapidly, and through the instrumentality of Bro Trevor Whyne a grant of £45,000 was obtained from the local authority to erect an upper hall for the provision of a youth club and other community activities. This necessitated the setting up of a social department which included a youth club, a Day Centre for the elderly and a mother and baby clinic; thus making Brixton a true community church. Rev Nelson even had the foresight in those days to accept the gift a traditional black taxi cab (which was customized to burgundy) for the use of transporting the elderly members of the day centre. As the day centre grew, it soon became obvious that the elderly folks needed a lift to enable them to easily access the church hall for their activities and so a lift was later added.
Two very memorable events that brought Brixton NTCG into the National arena of the country was the BBC Broadcasting of Pentecost Sunday from Brixton Church in 2005 and the visit from the former Labour Prime Minister, Gordon Brown in 2010.
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