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Lawshall Evangelical Free Church is located at Hanningfield Green. The church was born out of the desire of local Evangelical Christians in the village of Lawshall and the surrounding villages to undertake their own form of worship. Evangelistic activities by outside bodies (including The Faith Mission) resulted in some conversions and from about 1968 people met in various houses for worship and bible study. Eventually a legacy from the late Walter G Waspe of Lawshall Hall made financial provision for a new church which was opened for worship on 1 August 1970.
The initial accommodation comprised a chapel, vestry, kitchen and toilets. Further additions were made in 1978 with a hall and new toilet facilities. A baptistry was also incorporated in the hall for services entailing baptism by immersion.
In July 1976 the church appointed its first Pastor, David Bedford-Groom, who continued to minister and lead the church on a part-time basis for 12 years while continuing his profession as an accountant. In 1989 Michael Holmes, a retired building surveyor, took over as the full time pastor until his retirement from the ministry in 1998. He was replaced by Pastor Antony Finnie in September 2000.
As a Free Church they have no authoritative body beyond the local congregation. The church is not isolationist and since 1996 they have been affiliated to the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches.
Services are held each Sunday morning (11.00am) and Sunday evening (6.30pm). The morning service is followed by tea and coffee. Communion is every second and fourth Sunday evening of each month. Other parts of the church diary include a Coffee Morning (on the first Tuesday of most months), the "Sparkz" kids' club, "Little Treasures" Parent and Toddler Group and Thursday Prayer Meeting.
References:
1. Lawshall Parish Council, ed. (2006). Lawshall: A Guide to Your Village. Lawshall Parish Council
2. Lawshall Village Appraisal Group, ed. (1991). Lawshall: Past, Present and Future - An Appraisal. Appraisal Group
3 "Lawshall Evangelical Free Church - Meetings". Lawshall Evangelical Free Church. Retrieved 2012-02-10.