Potters Church was planted by a talented and committed team of people from Swan Bank Methodist Church, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent in January 1992

We originally called our new church Birches Head Christian Fellowship and planted in the local High School. We felt directed by the Holy spirit to the area and also felt we would have more in common with people who lived there than other areas of the city.

Having not done anything like this before, we started somewhat apprehensively with a dry run on the first Sunday in January 1992. Just 17 of us plus a few children rented a classroom in the school. We had to set up all our equipment and put it all away at the end, leaving the classroom as we found it.

Below is an extract from my book ‘Fishers of men’ which describes the experience of the next Sunday when we ‘opened for business’.

In the week following we advertised in the local press that a new church was starting in the school, and we pushed leaflets through every door, then we held our collective breath.

The 12th of January 1992 began with an early start for the setters-up. The music had been practiced, the service prepared, and we waited. I remember very clearly that an excited message was passed down the long corridor: ‘we can see a young couple coming down the path.’ Wow! In the end three completely new people came, plus a few other family members and friends and we ended up with 23 adults and 10 children. Not revival, but a sound beginning.

We had been used to worshipping in a packed-out church and it felt very weird to sit together in what was very obviously a school classroom with only 30 odd others. I can claim a certain empathy now with the missionary who has gone far from home to take the Gospel into a place where no one has gone before. I know we were only a few miles away in reality, but it did feel like the other side of the world.

We were ever so nervous. I carry one vivid picture with me of that first public Sunday. One of the musicians, had taught himself to play the keyboard and had purchased his own instrument especially for the occasion and was playing it for the first time in public. I sat behind him and saw his knees literally knocking together.

So here we were; our little craft had launched into the unknown and I really did rejoice inwardly, and my prayer was: ‘Lord, bless your work.’

- Founding Pastor Phil Barber.