This article is about the UK based Church organisation LIFE Church. For the American Evangelical organisation, see Life.Church.
LIFE Church UK, formerly the Abundant Life Church, is a Christianmegachurch established and based in Bradford, England. The church has additional facilities in Warsaw and describes itself as "one church, three locations" (Bradford, Warsaw and Online). Sunday services are regularly streamed online. In 2003 it had an attendance of over 2,000 people; by 2006, the figure had climbed to 2,800.[1]
LIFE Church has its roots in the Charismatic Restoration movement of Arthur Wallis. It was founded in 1976 by Bryn Jones, one of the early Restoration/British New Church leaders, by an amalgamation of three small Bradford churches: a charismaticBrethren Assembly based at the Bolton Woods Gospel Hall; an independent charismatic church made up mostly of former Baptists who had been unable to continue in their church because of their charismatic beliefs; and the New Covenant Church, a fellowship originally under the apostolic leadership of G. W. North.[2]
In its early days it met in the Anglican Church House and so was known locally as Church House.[3] Later known as Abundant Life Church for a number of years, in 2012 the name was shortened to LIFE Church, reflecting a move into a season of new leadership and direction.
Since 2000, LIFE Church has become more widely known through its regular radio and television broadcasts. Programmes are broadcast on God TV, United Christian Broadcasters, Australian Christian Channel and several other stations around the world. The church also has a weekly half-hour slot on Cross Rhythms radio.[4] Many of the programmes broadcast on TV and radio are also available as podcasts and on YouTube.
The church organises annual conferences and events which are attended by Christians the UK and beyond. Their Women's Conference 'Cherish' has outgrown the Bradford campus and is now hosted at the Leeds First Direct Arena.
Facilities
The church's main location is in Bradford, West Yorkshire, but it also has a campus in Warsaw, Poland. The Bradford campus has a coffee shop, serving coffee from local roasters North Star Coffee, and connected to the youth building is a skatepark.
College
Life Church College is based in Bradford, England.[5]
Leadership
Paul Scanlon was the senior pastor of the church until 2012, having been part of the team alongside his wife Glenda since 1980. In 1997, he led the then Abundant Life Church during a period of transition that later became known as 'Crossing Over', during which it left Covenant Ministries. In 2012, Paul and Glenda’s eldest daughter and son in law; husband and wife, Steve and Charlotte Gambill were appointed as lead pastors of the church.
In 2021, it was announced that Charlotte Gambill would step down from paid employment for church but would remain as the Lead Pastor alongside her husband, Steve.
In 2021, David and Abigail Niblock were the Leeds campus Pastors, Maciek and Iga Liziniewicz were the Warsaw campus Pastors, Jock and Shirley James were the Bradford campus Pastors and Liam and Natalie Gordon were the Belfast campus Pastors.
In 2022, it was announced that the Leeds campus would be leaving LIFE Church, and they have since changed into “North^Church”. It was also announced in May 2022 that Liam and Natalie Gordon would be stepping down as campus pastors, and that the Belfast campus would be closing.
As of June 2022, Jock and Shirley James are the lead pastors of the church, and Maciek and Iga Liziniewicz are the Warsaw campus pastors.
Music
The church has produced a number of albums and singles, mainly recorded live. They also publish music from church services and conferences online.[6] The early recordings were distributed by Kingsway Communications and later albums by Integrity Music. Dance Again, a live album released in May 2014 entered UK Albums Chart in the top 40.[7]
Discography
Title
Band
Release Year
Higher
Abundant Life Ministries
2000
Divine Exchange
Abundant Life Ministries
2002
God is Here
Abundant Life Ministries
2003
How Loved
Abundant Life Ministries
2004
Let the World See Jesus
Abundant Life Church
2005
RPM: Live
RPM
2005
I Surrender All
RPM
2005
Give My All
RPM
2007
Send Me
Abundant Life Church
2007
Sound of Praise EP
RPM
2010
Name Above All Names
ALM:UK
2010
I Am Future
I Am Future
2012
Dance Again
LIFE Worship
2014
Love Let Loose
I Am Future
2015
Wide Open Space
LIFE Worship
2016
Speak to the Storm
LIFE Worship
2018
Love is Life
I Am Future
2018
Your Name
LIFE Worship
2020
Your Name - Reimagined, Vol. 1
LIFE Worship
2020
Seek First: Songs for Devotion
LIFE Worship
2021
Your Name - Reimagined, Vol. 2
LIFE Worship
2021
With Us (Emmanuel)
LIFE Worship
2021
References
^Peter Brierley, Ed. UK Christian Handbook, Religious Trends 7 (Swindon: Christian Research, 2008) 9.10.2
^William K Kay, Apostolic Networks in Britain (Milton Keynes, Paternoster, 2007) 48–49
^Andrew Walker Restoring the Kingdom: the Radical Christianity of the House Church Movement 4th Ed (Guildford: Eagle, 1998) 112
^"Podcasts". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
^"LIFE Church Leadership College | LIFE Church, UK". LIFE Church, Home. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
^"LIFE Worship". YouTube Channel. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
^Whitehouse, Paul (June 2014). "Breakthrough for a Christian song as amateur recording shoots to No 38". The Telegraph and Argus.
life, church, this, article, about, based, church, organisation, life, church, american, evangelical, organisation, life, church, formerly, abundant, life, church, christian, megachurch, established, based, bradford, england, church, additional, facilities, wa. This article is about the UK based Church organisation LIFE Church For the American Evangelical organisation see Life Church LIFE Church UK formerly the Abundant Life Church is a Christian megachurch established and based in Bradford England The church has additional facilities in Warsaw and describes itself as one church three locations Bradford Warsaw and Online Sunday services are regularly streamed online In 2003 it had an attendance of over 2 000 people by 2006 the figure had climbed to 2 800 1 LIFE ChurchLocationBradford West YorkshireCountryUnited KingdomWeekly attendance1 000Websitelifechurchhome wbr comHistoryFormer name s Abundant Life ChurchFounded1976 1976 ClergyPastor s Jock and Shirley James Contents 1 History 2 Facilities 3 College 4 Leadership 5 Music 5 1 Discography 6 ReferencesHistory EditLIFE Church has its roots in the Charismatic Restoration movement of Arthur Wallis It was founded in 1976 by Bryn Jones one of the early Restoration British New Church leaders by an amalgamation of three small Bradford churches a charismatic Brethren Assembly based at the Bolton Woods Gospel Hall an independent charismatic church made up mostly of former Baptists who had been unable to continue in their church because of their charismatic beliefs and the New Covenant Church a fellowship originally under the apostolic leadership of G W North 2 In its early days it met in the Anglican Church House and so was known locally as Church House 3 Later known as Abundant Life Church for a number of years in 2012 the name was shortened to LIFE Church reflecting a move into a season of new leadership and direction Since 2000 LIFE Church has become more widely known through its regular radio and television broadcasts Programmes are broadcast on God TV United Christian Broadcasters Australian Christian Channel and several other stations around the world The church also has a weekly half hour slot on Cross Rhythms radio 4 Many of the programmes broadcast on TV and radio are also available as podcasts and on YouTube The church organises annual conferences and events which are attended by Christians the UK and beyond Their Women s Conference Cherish has outgrown the Bradford campus and is now hosted at the Leeds First Direct Arena Facilities EditThe church s main location is in Bradford West Yorkshire but it also has a campus in Warsaw Poland The Bradford campus has a coffee shop serving coffee from local roasters North Star Coffee and connected to the youth building is a skatepark College EditLife Church College is based in Bradford England 5 Leadership EditPaul Scanlon was the senior pastor of the church until 2012 having been part of the team alongside his wife Glenda since 1980 In 1997 he led the then Abundant Life Church during a period of transition that later became known as Crossing Over during which it left Covenant Ministries In 2012 Paul and Glenda s eldest daughter and son in law husband and wife Steve and Charlotte Gambill were appointed as lead pastors of the church In 2021 it was announced that Charlotte Gambill would step down from paid employment for church but would remain as the Lead Pastor alongside her husband Steve In 2021 David and Abigail Niblock were the Leeds campus Pastors Maciek and Iga Liziniewicz were the Warsaw campus Pastors Jock and Shirley James were the Bradford campus Pastors and Liam and Natalie Gordon were the Belfast campus Pastors In 2022 it was announced that the Leeds campus would be leaving LIFE Church and they have since changed into North Church It was also announced in May 2022 that Liam and Natalie Gordon would be stepping down as campus pastors and that the Belfast campus would be closing As of June 2022 Jock and Shirley James are the lead pastors of the church and Maciek and Iga Liziniewicz are the Warsaw campus pastors Music EditThe church has produced a number of albums and singles mainly recorded live They also publish music from church services and conferences online 6 The early recordings were distributed by Kingsway Communications and later albums by Integrity Music Dance Again a live album released in May 2014 entered UK Albums Chart in the top 40 7 Discography Edit Title Band Release YearHigher Abundant Life Ministries 2000Divine Exchange Abundant Life Ministries 2002God is Here Abundant Life Ministries 2003How Loved Abundant Life Ministries 2004Let the World See Jesus Abundant Life Church 2005RPM Live RPM 2005I Surrender All RPM 2005Give My All RPM 2007Send Me Abundant Life Church 2007Sound of Praise EP RPM 2010Name Above All Names ALM UK 2010I Am Future I Am Future 2012Dance Again LIFE Worship 2014Love Let Loose I Am Future 2015Wide Open Space LIFE Worship 2016Speak to the Storm LIFE Worship 2018Love is Life I Am Future 2018Your Name LIFE Worship 2020Your Name Reimagined Vol 1 LIFE Worship 2020Seek First Songs for Devotion LIFE Worship 2021Your Name Reimagined Vol 2 LIFE Worship 2021With Us Emmanuel LIFE Worship 2021References Edit Peter Brierley Ed UK Christian Handbook Religious Trends 7 Swindon Christian Research 2008 9 10 2 William K Kay Apostolic Networks in Britain Milton Keynes Paternoster 2007 48 49 Andrew Walker Restoring the Kingdom the Radical Christianity of the House Church Movement 4th Ed Guildford Eagle 1998 112 Podcasts Cross Rhythms Retrieved 25 July 2008 LIFE Church Leadership College LIFE Church UK LIFE Church Home Retrieved 8 October 2018 LIFE Worship YouTube Channel Retrieved 4 March 2019 Whitehouse Paul June 2014 Breakthrough for a Christian song as amateur recording shoots to No 38 The Telegraph and Argus Coordinates 53 47 59 N 1 44 44 W 53 79972 N 1 74556 W 53 79972 1 74556 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title LIFE Church UK amp oldid 1142696728, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
