Church history
Here are some steps in our church’s history:
​
1970s the Wildwood Estate is built
1977 People start meeting in homes on Wildwood, in small Bible study groups. They are encouraged and supported by local Anglican curate John Webb, who starts a Pram Service in the hut left behind by the builders as a Community Centre
1980s The number of Christians meeting continues to grow and, with the support of several churches across Stafford, Sunday morning services start. Wildwood Christian Fellowship charity 515346 is formed
1983 Sunday Morning meetings move to the new Wildwood Community Centre
1989 Partnership begins with churches led by William Barnard in Monrovia, West Africa
1991 First church leader - Peter Russell – appointed
1998 Bernard Glover and Nick Cox appointed as church leaders
1999 Peter and Maureen Russell leave for Shrewsbury
2003 Bernard Glover commissioned as Leader of Wildwood Christian Fellowship
WCF joins Newfrontiers, an international network of charismatic churches led by Terry Virgo
2005 Sunday Morning meetings move to Barnfields Primary School
2008 The Gateway (a former GP’s surgery) is opened as a community hub and church offices.
Markus and Leah Weber start working as youth pastors
2010 Bernard and Anne-Marie Glover leave for Dublin, and Graham Russell heads the leadership team
2012 Newfontiers becomes several different spheres, including ChristCentral Churches led by Jeremy Simpkins
2013 WCF is renamed Wildwood Church, Stafford
2014 Markus Weber becomes church leader
​
2016 new Wildwood Church Stafford charity 1169325 created, and all operations transferred from the older WCF charity over the following years
2020 Sunday morning in-person meetings suspended due to Covid-19 – and broadcasts / meetings continue online
​
2021 Sunday morning gatherings are back, with internet broadcasts also available
2023 We moved to gathering in Beaconside following the flooding of Barnfields Primary School. We felt God confirm that he wanted us to stay from the prophetic words that we received.