No Assembly Testimony
I have searched quite extensively to discover whether there has ever been a Brethren Assembly in the Kingswood area of Bristol where I have lived for over thirty years. I had known the area for a good number of years before actually residing here, and never remember any suggestion of the formation of an Assembly. Indeed back in the 1970s, I preached in the open-air in this area and the surrounding districts. In that decade there were only two Kelly/Lowe "Exclusive" companies in Bristol, one in Bishopsworth and the other in the Staple Hill area. The same Assemblies continued into the eighties. Eighteen "Open" Assemblies are listed in 1951 and by 1959 the number recorded had increased to 23. None of the lists that I have been able to obtain have any reference to a Brethren Assembly testimony in Kingswood. I realise that the Assembly in Redfield, namely Milton Park Gospel Hall was a reasonable distance for believers to make their way there on foot, provided one lived at the nearer end of the Kingswood area. But most, if not all the other Meetings were too far to walk especially if there were children in their families; and bearing in mind that far fewer had cars in those days.
I also appreciate that Kingswood was a Methodist/Wesleyan stronghold from the i8th Century; those dearly honoured servants of the Lord having faithfully preached the Gospel with Holy Spirit effectiveness. Tragically these congregations are much depleted in number and far, far from the original teaching and practice of those long departed saints. but still no Assembly has ever been formed here.
It has an exercise laid upon my heart for many years, and now with the Covid pandemic causing the surrender of so many testimonies, individually and collectively, it lies yet more grievously there as an awful burden.
I am truly grateful to God for the fellowship enjoyed with Him, the Father, and with His lovely Son; and for the divine provision for the "twos and threes" gathered to the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, alone.
