About Us - Thornhill Church

A Brief History of Thornhill Church

1978 - Thornhill estate began - a large development of private housing in the north of the city of Cardiff.
1982 - The 'vision' to buy a plot of land on which to build a permanent church-cum-community facility.
1983 - Letter to the City Council asking them to allocate land for a church building. Survey of the growing number of houses. Strong support for an independent church, and also the discovery of many committed Christians.
Began home Bible studies with numbers of these - called Thornhill Christian Fellowship as we were all still attending churches elsewhere in the city.
1985 - Held a tent 'festival' on the estate.
Began to meet for Family Service and Sunday School in a local Primary school off the estate.
1986 - Second tent 'festival' right in the centre of the estate. We were allowed to use the plot of ground we had applied for in 1982 - we claimed it in prayer!
Commenced a youth work in local leisure centres.
1987 - Held a separate 'SuperGang' for children and a service for adults on Sundays.
Commenced evening services using homes of those in the fellowship.
First baptism - using the swimming pool of the local leisure centre!
Other activities such as publicity around the estate, weekends away, youth camps, special services at Easter and Christmas, fellowship lunches, etc.
1988 - Monthly fellowship lunches. Weekend away.
1991 - Building of new Thornhill Primary School, the first public building. Family Service and Sunday School began there in November. Had to provide all our own equipment, including chairs!
Commenced a Mother and Toddlers group in a church hall off the estate - bulging at the seams!
Development of a range of church ministries with a pair of Team Leaders in each. These team leaders met with the church leaders regularly to report on progress, share problems and pray together.
Divided mid-week Home Groups into two. Also Ladies Home Group held in the day.
1993 - Produced our Church document
The first church leadership election based on new membership and leadership documents. Four men were elected as church leaders / elders.
Formal membership commenced.
1994 City Council asked us to submit our formal planning application.
Establishment of building requirements following detailed discussions with all the church ministries.
1995 Planning application granted for a Community Church building.
1997 February - October building of new Thornhill Church Centre. Opened first weekend of October.
1998 Completion and opening of Lighthouse Nursery. Total build and fittings costing over £500,000
1999 Appointed community pastor in April.
2000 Appointed full time teaching pastor in August. Also his wife joined him in discipleship and pastoral work, particularly amongst women. Asked by Council if we are interested in extending our facilities, and including a Council Library.
2002 Centre filled to capacity on Sundays and through week. Planning for new facilities.
2003 Appointment of full-time Youth Pastor.
2004 Our full time teaching pastor follows a call to a church in Aberdeen, and our community pastor moves to Scotland. Two of the elders / trustees temporarily take up a 2-day a week role to fulfil the pastoral, teaching and leadership roles. The church later elects one of the 'part-time Pastors' as a full time Pastor for teaching and leadership, and proceeds to seek God for a third full-time pastor to take the lead in pastoral care and evangelism.
2005 Church completes extensive exploration of additional facilities. Final designs completed in September.