History of the Church
Our main aim as a local church is for men and women to come to genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through repenting of their sins and being baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as a demonstration of being a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:16
A church had existed in West Hendon for over a hundred years, but the current church building was constructed in the 1930s. For the following fifty years, the church sustained its own ministry and mission in the area. In the 1980s, the church declined numerically and, by the 1990s' was without pastoral leadership. In 1998 Willesden Green Baptist Church, under the leadership of Phil Robinson gave oversight to WHBC, and it became a part of the centrally organised Immanuel Baptist Fellowship (IBF). The buildings were renovated, and the work was renewed through several Willesden Green members seconded to help. Most of these people stayed and became a key part of the current fellowship.
In August 2009, WHBC became financially self-governing and responsible for its own mission, ministry, and maintenance. Rev David Ronco was appointed as the part-time Transitional Minister for two years during this period. In October 2011, Winston Bygrave was appointed as a part-time Pastor at WHBC. Since then, the congregation has grown through transference and conversion, and 16 baptisms have occurred.
Pastor Winston Bygrave and his wife, Laureen Bygrave
Winston was converted to Christ in 1975. He quickly became actively involved in the Children and Youth
Ministry within his local church in South West
London. He pastored 3 different churches in South West London between 1983 and 1996 before being
called to the leadership team at New Life Bible Church, Wealdstone, under Pastor Rick Johnston, where he developed a deep understanding of the principles for
building effective churches.
In January 2007, he became part of the eldership team at New Life Christian Centre International, Wembley, under Pastor Ian Christenson. There he had oversight of the administration of the church, the Children and Youth Ministries, and the curriculum development and administration of the New Life Bible School, part of the ministry of NLCCi. He regularly taught at the Sunday services and in the Bible School. At NLCCi he developed a great insight into the importance of prayer and fasting.
Winston has led several home and foreign mission teams and has preached nationally and internationally. His burden is to see the development of effective apostolic teams that build strong autonomous churches, which in turn equip believers for their God-given ministry in building up the body of Christ and extending the Kingdom of God throughout the earth.
Winston is a well-respected, sought-after prophetic Bible teacher, challenging the body of Christ to committed discipleship and living an overcoming life in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. He has been married to Laureen for over 40 years; they have 6 adult children and 13 grandchildren.
Pastor's Surgery: On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the pastor is available at the church to offer advice and counselling between 9 am - 3 pm.