Our Call
Our mission is to 'know Christ and make him known in Pembrokeshire' and for forty years we've been following God's call to share the good news of Jesus with our county.
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How it all began
Emmanuel Church began in 1983 under the leadership of Rev John Welsby.
In 1979, John and his wife Cherrie had come to work with Rev Norman Ellison, an itinerant preacher and evangelist, who had been working in Pembrokeshire since the 1950s. Rev Ellison ministered throughout the county with children’s caravan missions, schools work and ministry in the farming communities. He also ran a Beach Mission in Saundersfoot every summer with students from Emmanuel Bible College in Birkenhead. John and Cherrie came to serve on the teams and sensed God’s call to work with Norman and his wife Mary.
Shortly after Norman’s death in 1981 a small gathering of enthusiastic people keen to share their faith, began to meet in 71 Pembroke Road. John and the leaders prayed that God would confirm the call to establish a church, through someone who had no knowledge of what was being discussed. God’s plan was confirmed later that day when a phone conversation confirmed that “the only way forward in Pembrokeshire is a church planting ministry.”
How it all began
Emmanuel Church began in 1983 under the leadership of Rev John Welsby.
In 1979, John and his wife Cherrie had come to work with Rev Norman Ellison, an itinerant preacher and evangelist, who had been working in Pembrokeshire since the 1950s. Rev Ellison ministered throughout the county with children’s caravan missions, schools work and ministry in the farming communities. He also ran a Beach Mission in Saundersfoot every summer with students from Emmanuel Bible College in Birkenhead. John and Cherrie came to serve on the teams and sensed God’s call to work with Norman and his wife Mary.
Shortly after Norman’s death in 1981 a small gathering of enthusiastic people keen to share their faith, began to meet in 71 Pembroke Road. John and the leaders prayed that God would confirm the call to establish a church, through someone who had no knowledge of what was being discussed. God’s plan was confirmed later that day when a phone conversation confirmed that “the only way forward in Pembrokeshire is a church planting ministry.”
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A Vision for Pembrokeshire
Norman had a vision of a centre for the work in Pembrokeshire and in 1983 through God’s miraculous provision and generous friends, Emmanuel Christian Centre became a reality with the first church service held in the living room following a picnic. Over the years a purpose built building was developed on the site and is now used throughout the week to host worship and prayer meetings and to reach out into our local community.
In 2009 we affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, becoming a full society in 2012. Our pastor Rev. Dan Brett was ordained in the FMC in 2019, serving alongside John as assistant pastor until John handed the baton over in April 2021.
God has been so faithful through every season of our life as a church. From Norman’s ministry, to the Christian bookshop in Haverfordwest (1982-2016), to the Beach Mission (now ‘Emmanuel Missions’) which continues in Saundersfoot, our mission is still the same, to ‘know Christ and make Him known in Pembrokeshire and beyond.'
We believe God has called us to build on what has gone before, revitalise where the gospel witness has dried up, plant and support new churches across Pembrokeshire and develop new leaders and partnerships for the Kingdom. Will you join us as we seek to be obedient to Jesus in our generation?
A Vision for Pembrokeshire
Norman had a vision of a centre for the work in Pembrokeshire and in 1983 through God’s miraculous provision and generous friends, Emmanuel Christian Centre became a reality with the first church service held in the living room following a picnic. Over the years a purpose built building was developed on the site and is now used throughout the week to host worship and prayer meetings and to reach out into our local community.
In 2009 we affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, becoming a full society in 2012. Our pastor Rev. Dan Brett was ordained in the FMC in 2019, serving alongside John as assistant pastor until John handed the baton over in April 2021.
God has been so faithful through every season of our life as a church. From Norman’s ministry, to the Christian bookshop in Haverfordwest (1982-2016), to the Beach Mission (now ‘Emmanuel Missions’) which continues in Saundersfoot, our mission is still the same, to ‘know Christ and make Him known in Pembrokeshire and beyond.'
We believe God has called us to build on what has gone before, revitalise where the gospel witness has dried up, plant and support new churches across Pembrokeshire and develop new leaders and partnerships for the Kingdom. Will you join us as we seek to be obedient to Jesus in our generation?