George Jeffreys (pastor)
Encyclopedia
George Jeffreys was a Welsh minister who founded the Elim Pentecostal Church
, one of the first Pentecostal organisations.
As a fifteen-year-old from Nantyffylon, Maesteg
, Wales
, George became a Christian
during the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival
, along with his older brother Stephen. At the time, many local Christians believed the two brothers were appointed by God
to do great works for Him.
In 1910, after becoming a very popular speaker in certain circles throughout the country, George went to the All Saints' Anglican Church in Sunderland, England
. There he saw people expressing the Gifts of the Spirit
, particularly speaking in tongues as in Acts
chapter 2 in the Bible
. George was at first opposed to this, but when his nephew, Edward, claimed to have received Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and he noticed the change in his nephew, he repented of his unbelief in the All Saints' church, and subsequently, began to express such gifts himself.
In the many churches, conventions and camp meetings where George and Stephen Jeffreys preached in the years after this, there were reports of many miraculous healings and other acts of God. Such healings brought George to his "foursquare" belief that Jesus is Saviour, Healer, Baptiser and Coming King. George, along with a small group of peers, became known as the Elim Evangelistic Band in Belfast
and all over Northern Ireland
. This group of people brought crowds into their large tent, and later, into the Belfast hall they acquired. Out of this, George founded his first church in Belfast in 1914, and the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance
, as it is officially known, was born.
Many more Elim churches were soon planted all over the country, first of all spreading through Northern Ireland to Ballymena
, Moneyslane
and Portadown
, then on to Leigh-on-Sea
, Essex
,The FIRST Elim Church in England and Clapham
, London
and in Wales at Llanelli
and Dowlais
. In 1925, he founded the Elim Bible College in Clapham
, which moved to Nantwich
, Cheshire
in 1987 and later became Regents Theological College
.
George continued to lead the Elim Pentecostal Churches until 1939 when, due to differences in opinion on church leadership, he left Elim and went to Nottingham to found the Bible-Pattern Church Fellowship, The denomination suffered a serious decline in numbers in the later years of the 1960s and no longer exists as a separate entity, its main church, Kensington Temple
, having become the central London church of the Elim Pentecostal Church.When George Jeffreys died in 1962 his ministry was as powerful as ever. He was planning the Easter Monday meeting at the Westminster Central Hall when he ministered for what would be the last time on earth at Kensington Temple. It was a powerful service, and as usual George made a strong altar call and people were saved. George led the congregation in the hymn `Forgiveness is free' both in English and Welsh. As he began his ministry so he ended it calling lost sinners to repentance unto new life.
Further Information: www.pentecostalpioneers.org
Further information: Brooks, Noel. Fight for Faith and Freedom: George Jeffreys, rivalist and reformer. (Pattern Books,ca. 1940).
Video: "The Jeffreys Brothers" a church history documentary on George and Stephen Jeffreys. (www.garywilkinson.eu)
Elim Pentecostal Church
The Elim Pentecostal Church is a UK-based Pentecostal Christian denomination.-History:George Jeffreys , a Welshman, founded the Elim Pentecostal Church in Monaghan, Ireland in 1915. Jeffreys was an evangelist with a Welsh Congregational church background. He was converted at age 15 during the...
, one of the first Pentecostal organisations.
As a fifteen-year-old from Nantyffylon, Maesteg
Maesteg
Maesteg is a town and community in Bridgend County Borough, Wales. Maesteg lies at the northernmost end of the Llynfi Valley, close to the border with Neath Port Talbot. In 2001, Maesteg had a population of 17,859, but it is now at an estimate of 20,000....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, George became a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
during the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival
1904-1905 Welsh Revival
The Welsh Revival was the largest Christian revival in Wales during the 20th century. While by no means the best known of revivals, it was one of the most dramatic in terms of its effect on the population, and it had repercussions that reached far beyond the Welsh border, triggering a series of...
, along with his older brother Stephen. At the time, many local Christians believed the two brothers were appointed by God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
to do great works for Him.
In 1910, after becoming a very popular speaker in certain circles throughout the country, George went to the All Saints' Anglican Church in Sunderland, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. There he saw people expressing the Gifts of the Spirit
Spiritual gift
In Christianity, spiritual gifts are endowments given by the Holy Spirit. These are the supernatural graces which individual Christians need to fulfill the mission of the church. They are described in the New Testament, primarily in , , and . also touches on the spiritual gifts...
, particularly speaking in tongues as in Acts
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of the Apostles , usually referred to simply as Acts, is the fifth book of the New Testament; Acts outlines the history of the Apostolic Age...
chapter 2 in the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. George was at first opposed to this, but when his nephew, Edward, claimed to have received Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and he noticed the change in his nephew, he repented of his unbelief in the All Saints' church, and subsequently, began to express such gifts himself.
In the many churches, conventions and camp meetings where George and Stephen Jeffreys preached in the years after this, there were reports of many miraculous healings and other acts of God. Such healings brought George to his "foursquare" belief that Jesus is Saviour, Healer, Baptiser and Coming King. George, along with a small group of peers, became known as the Elim Evangelistic Band in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and all over Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. This group of people brought crowds into their large tent, and later, into the Belfast hall they acquired. Out of this, George founded his first church in Belfast in 1914, and the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance
Elim Pentecostal Church
The Elim Pentecostal Church is a UK-based Pentecostal Christian denomination.-History:George Jeffreys , a Welshman, founded the Elim Pentecostal Church in Monaghan, Ireland in 1915. Jeffreys was an evangelist with a Welsh Congregational church background. He was converted at age 15 during the...
, as it is officially known, was born.
Many more Elim churches were soon planted all over the country, first of all spreading through Northern Ireland to Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
, Moneyslane
Moneyslane
Moneyslane is a small village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland, on the main route from Castlewellan to Banbridge. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 147. It lies within the District of Banbridge.-History:...
and Portadown
Portadown
Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
, then on to Leigh-on-Sea
Leigh-on-Sea
Leigh-on-Sea , sometimes called Leigh, is a civil parish in Essex, England. It is part of Southend-on-Sea for administrative purposes. It became a civil parish in 1996. The council tax was increased to support it. A town council was formed. Leigh is the only parish in Southend...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
,The FIRST Elim Church in England and Clapham
Clapham
Clapham is a district in south London, England, within the London Borough of Lambeth.Clapham covers the postcodes of SW4 and parts of SW9, SW8 and SW12. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth, although Lambeth has responsibility for running the common as a whole. According...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and in Wales at Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
and Dowlais
Dowlais
Dowlais is a village and community of the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil, in Wales. As of 2001, it has a population of 6646.Dowlais is notable within Wales and Britain for its historic association with ironworking; once employing, through the Dowlais Iron Company, roughly 5,000 people, the works...
. In 1925, he founded the Elim Bible College in Clapham
Clapham
Clapham is a district in south London, England, within the London Borough of Lambeth.Clapham covers the postcodes of SW4 and parts of SW9, SW8 and SW12. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth, although Lambeth has responsibility for running the common as a whole. According...
, which moved to Nantwich
Nantwich
Nantwich is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The town gives its name to the parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
in 1987 and later became Regents Theological College
Regents Theological College
Regents Theological College is a theological college in Malvern, Worcestershire, England. It is the training centre of the Elim Pentecostal Church....
.
George continued to lead the Elim Pentecostal Churches until 1939 when, due to differences in opinion on church leadership, he left Elim and went to Nottingham to found the Bible-Pattern Church Fellowship, The denomination suffered a serious decline in numbers in the later years of the 1960s and no longer exists as a separate entity, its main church, Kensington Temple
Kensington Temple
Kensington Temple is a large Pentecostal Church in the Notting Hill area of London. It is pastored by Reverend Colin Dye, and is the largest church in its denomination, the Elim Pentecostal Church.-History:...
, having become the central London church of the Elim Pentecostal Church.When George Jeffreys died in 1962 his ministry was as powerful as ever. He was planning the Easter Monday meeting at the Westminster Central Hall when he ministered for what would be the last time on earth at Kensington Temple. It was a powerful service, and as usual George made a strong altar call and people were saved. George led the congregation in the hymn `Forgiveness is free' both in English and Welsh. As he began his ministry so he ended it calling lost sinners to repentance unto new life.
Further Information: www.pentecostalpioneers.org
Further information: Brooks, Noel. Fight for Faith and Freedom: George Jeffreys, rivalist and reformer. (Pattern Books,ca. 1940).
Video: "The Jeffreys Brothers" a church history documentary on George and Stephen Jeffreys. (www.garywilkinson.eu)