Our History

RPC started life as a house fellowship in Richmond Park Avenue (hence the name) in 1981. This was in the days of charismatic renewal in this country when many house fellowships sprung up, God began drawing people into the fellowship and baptising them in his Holy Spirit. From the early days the church was called to be a "church in the community" reaching people with the gospel and bringing the kingdom of God into the area through lives submitted to the Lordship of Christ. Freedom in worship and allowing the Holy Spirit to do his work were the God given emphasis from the start. As the church grew in size it moved to a hall in Charminster Road URC (since demolished) and then on to Nortoft Road Day Centre in 1984. In 1985 we bought the Old Citadel in Boscombe and began the mammoth task of renovating the building.

 

 

Richmond Park was one of the centres of renewal in the area, many people coming into the church, discovering Jesus Christ as Saviour and being baptised in the Spirit, built up in their faith and moving on to serve churches nearer their homes. In the early days many travelled in to Boscombe from other parts of the town but more recently a good number of members are from the local area, helping us to become more of a "church in the community" and we are continually seeking ways to bring the life and light of God into Boscombe and also the areas where we live. Richmond Park is a pentecostal evangelical church which is not linked to any denomination or house church stream but is a member of the Evangelical Alliance of Great Britain.

During the late 2008 / early 2009 changes to the front of the church building, the builders discovered a time capsule when they were demolishing the old wall. It contained Salvation Army "War Cry" newspapers from 1898!