Church History

The history of Hackney Evangelical Reformed Church (HERC) begins with a humble story of a journeyed community. It’s a history that gloriously displays the Lord’s acute providence in the preservation of a group of immigrant West Indian Christians. Despite their voyage over the Atlantic, their experience of painful rejection upon arrival on British shores and before embarking on a long search for a home to dwell in, at each stage, they had their knowledge and faith in Christ renewed along the way through the mercy and means of their loving God.

Between the 1950s-60s, the mass emigration of Commonwealth migrants from the West Indies into the United Kingdom featured both individual believers looking for faithful churches and tight-knit Christian communities to join, as they were eager to maintain their Christian fellowship in a foreign land. Sadly many of the early members of HERC recall a common experience of being unwelcomed and racially marginalised as they sought and visited churches in the UK to join.

Undeterred, many founding members of HERC, mostly from the island of Montserrat, resolved to maintain the blessedness of gathering, initially meeting in the home of one of the first members of the church, the late sister Ruth Molyneaux, before later utilising the space in a book office in Hornsey, North London. In 1955, a fellow Montserratian by the way of Mr Thomas Benjamin Tuitt was added to their number and was shortly identified by the congregation, owing to his preaching gifts, as the man to become their pastor. Mr Tuitt was a former Montserratian Army Serviceman, who had previous experience teaching Sunday School classes and leading the young people's group at his church back home on the island. He accepted the church’s request to become their pastor and reversed his plans to return to the Caribbean. He later sent for his wife and two children to join him in England. Notably, in 1960, Pastor Tuitt would be later joined at the church by his long-time friend Mr Easton Howes.

Both men first met while congregants of the same church in Montserrat, led by none other than Mr Howes' father, Reverend Howes. Thankfully their commitment to faithful service to the Lord’s church was not dependent on their proximity to their homes on the island. Here in London, despite being separated from all that was familiar to them, they sought to not only build homes for themselves and their families but continued to prioritise the building of God's kingdom with their fellow brethren in a tiny corner in London.

The church continued to become a home for incoming West Indian emigrants. Pastor Tuitt found employment driving London buses and Mr Howes worked at the Greater London Council. It was far from uncommon for this generation of Commonwealth emigrants, to embark on such careers within the UK public sector.

The congregation at Hornsey relocated to a more secure and permanent home on Sandringham Road, Hackney and Mr Howes was voted in as a church Elder. In His tender providence, the Lord would go on to use the friendship between Pastor Tuitt and Elder Howes to direct the wider spiritual health of the church.

After receiving several invitations to a Friday evening bible study at Westminster Chapel from fellow Christians at his place of work, Elder Howes finally agreed to attend. The preacher was none other than the renowned Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones, who taught from the book of Romans. Elder Howes was so captured by the sound and convicting teaching of Dr. Lloyd Jones, that he in turn took the role of persuading others, particularly Pastor Tuitt to attend, to which his friend agreed on the following Sunday. In addition to attending the mid-week bible studies, Pastor Tuitt also attended their Westminster Fellowship: a monthly Monday gathering of around 300 preachers from across southern England. The aim of these meetings was to discuss current issues affecting Christian leaders, with the meeting often featuring the sharing and presenting of papers. As both men were forced to begin grappling with the reformed truths as presented by Dr. Lloyd-Jones, they were moved to test what they had heard directly against the scriptures, whilst also comparing these teachings with the orthodoxy of their current understanding of the theological doctrines they themselves and their congregation held to. This resulted in visible change for the Hackney church.

One aspect of church life that underwent scrutiny was the church’s current style of congregational singing. With the leadership of Pastor Tuitt and Elder Howes, now convinced that the church’s current style of worship had to undergo a change in order to reflect what was believed to be a more biblical model, changes were made, but not without resistance by some sections of the church. Sadly in response to the church’s new direction, some members decided to leave the congregation. The result of this fallout was particularly felt, as at the same time the church was faced with a separate departure of a cohort of members, of which were second-generation West Indians, who departed from the Christian faith entirely. A similar further experience of change was to be felt between the late 80s and early 90s, with the church later deciding to dissociate with a congregation in Birmingham on matters of theology, who they had previously shared strong ties with.

This series of events within this testing period for the church didn’t end there. A devastating fire at the church building on Sandringham Road in the 80s marked this period of material, long-lasting change and transition on several fronts. This was undoubtedly an important moment for the church. The church was now firmly reformed and Calvinistic, ratified within its Articles of Faith and church constitution. And the church now also had to find a new home.

After renting a shared building in Frampton Park, in 1989 the church moved to its current home on Lauriston Road. With a new home for God's people came also again a period of change. In recognition of a severe lack of younger members within their congregation, the church became active in street evangelism, whilst prayerfully raising their concerns regarding the future of their fellowship to the Lord. For many years, the earnest, heartfelt and often tearful prayers of the ageing congregation were offered unto the Lord. The Lord, in His mercy, heard their prayers and according to His good will did answer them. Sadly Pastor Tuitt would not see the fruit of such prayers, as the Lord called him home on April 18th, 1991, having just taught at the Thursday bible study the day before. Pastor Tuitt, equipped by the Spirit to lead this church, served as their leader from 1957-1991. A plaque commemorating his faithful service to God's people is fixed near the entrance of the church to remind all of God's faithful provision through His willing vessel.

The unexpected death of Pastor Tuitt ushered in a period of 14 years (1991-2005) in which Mr Howes served as the sole elder of the church. The Lord displayed His faithful care for His people by providing a steady stream of able ministers, many of whom were long-standing friends of the church, both in delivering the word and supporting the church administratively. Preachers such as Omri Jenkins, Dr David Allen, Dr. Hywel Jones (who went on to pastor the church for 6 months), Kunda Kalifungwa (who later took up membership), Joe Hewitt, Geoff Thomas and others. This network continued to grow far and wide, owing not least to the church’s attendance at the annual Aber Conference, in Aberystwyth, Wales, along with links formed with brethren in Zambia, through the support of Andrew Muwowo and Joe Kapolyo.

The passage of time was followed by a change in the demography of the church. Many original members of the congregation had now advanced in years, with the church comprising of a sizeable elderly population. Progressively the number of members, of which were second-generation immigrants, began to dwindle. However, the gospel continued to be faithfully preached by ministers week after week. Between 2004 and 2009, Norris Pierre, greatly assisted by Kunda, took on teaching responsibilities and Pastor Achille Blaize joined as a member from 2009 to 2010.

2010 saw a new decade marked by significant arrival for the church, with the hosting of a conference, featuring teaching and preaching by Dr Joel Beeke, serving as the catalyst for the subsequent waves of young Christians, particularly of African descent, descending into the pews. Largely either believers from charismatic-Pentecostal upbringings and churches or those who had only previously accessed reformed truths in a limited capacity, the dominant characteristic of the church featured a renewed youthful inquisition of scripture, a zealous pursuit of truth and determination to discern doctrine. The membership surged significantly in this period. By this the Lord was preserving His church, answering the prayers of those that had come before them and ensuring His work in Hackney continued. Notably, many new members had been influenced by the evangelism of Kehinde Omotayo, among the first to arrive within this influx. He was assisted by his close friend Adeola Ogundele, who personally identified with the theological transition of many who arrived eager to engage with the biblical truths to which many had failed to be exposed before. Their steadfast service to the church over later years would see the church vote in Adeola as a deacon in 2014, and Kehinde as an elder in 2016. Despite relocating to Nigeria, Adeola has remained in close contact with the church.

The year 2016 would also sadly be marked by deep loss for the church. 15 years after the death of his dear friend Pastor Tuitt, Elder Easton Howes passed away to glory on the 14th of December. The church acutely felt his loss and continues to fondly remember a man whose presence among his brethren stood as a Christ-like example of servant leadership. He was a loving husband, a devoted family man and especially for those who had journeyed with him from the shores of Montserrat to this corner of Lauriston Road, a steadfast friend and support.

Hackney Evangelical Reformed Church continues to enjoy the blessing of faithful preaching and biblical church community and remains served by Elder Kehinde and Elder Andrew and deacons Christian, Deji, Jide and Junior.