Our History, Mission & Beliefs!

Our History

1987– Isleham High Street Baptist church, under the leadership of Rev. Tom Chipper, planted a Church in Littleport. This was later to become known as “The Vine Community Church”

A group of Christians who had been worshiping at High Street Baptist Church at Isleham felt it was time for them to start meeting in their own village. With Ian and Carolyn Garner as the leaders, they met for the first time in June 1987.

After meeting in a number of different venues the fellowship managed to obtain a ten year lease for The Regal (former cinema and then Bingo hall) near the town centre.

We give thanks to the Lord for the way He inspired and envisioned Ian and all the hard work he put into leading the church and renovating the Regal building. We acknowledge Ian's and Carolyn's humble dedication and commitment to the Lord’s work in this village. Sadly, in late 2002, Ian developed lung cancer and went to be with his Lord in June 2003.

However, God's timing is amazing and He graciously provided Don and Heather Gee, who were previously part of the leadership team at Isleham, to carry on the work of pastoring the church and renovating the building.

After Don's retirement and with a need to look for a new venue to meet in, our very kind neighbours at St John's Methodist church shared their building for several months!

Then finally, through loving Christian support and God's amazing grace, we were able to move in to what was formerly called the Littleport Evangelical Church. We are tremendously grateful to God for His goodness to us and to all those who worked for many years in His service in this building before we came!

Our Mission - “To Live Jesus”

So our purpose is:

  • To be a growing family of God’s children

  • To develop a servant heart like His

  • To touch people with His love

  • By His Spirit, to bring people to Himself

Put another way, Believe, Belong and Bless!

We are committed to living out God’s purposes in:

  • Worship

  • Fellowship

  • Discipleship

  • Ministry

  • Evangelism

We have a vision. . .

It is the vision of being a church where the wounded and the hurting, the lonely and the depressed, the frustrated, and the confused can find love and acceptance, help and hope, forgiveness and encouragement.

It is the vision of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in a relevant way to the residents of Littleport and surrounding area.

It is the vision of helping each person become all that God wants them to be, helping them discover the gifts and talents God has given them and using them in His service.

It is the vision of seeing that we have a place and a responsibility in the wider world, and sending those called by God to work beyond the local setting, supporting them in prayer and practice.

We believe that…

  • The whole Bible is the word of God: it is inspired by the Holy Spirit and is entirely trustworthy; it is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

  • There is one God, who is eternally existent in three co-equal persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the Lord of all creation, life and redemption.

  • Man is by nature sinful and lost as a result of the fall, but through Christ can be reconciled to God and be born again.

  • God became man in Jesus Christ who was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, and therefore by nature He was and is both fully God and fully man. Jesus suffered and died in the place of sinful men, woman and children as an atoning sacrifice to bring reconciliation between us and God. He rose physically from the dead and ascended into Heaven where He now sits at the right hand of the Father.

  • The Lord Jesus will personally return to earth in a visible and glorious way, and will come again to judge both the living and the dead. All who have trusted in Him and received His free gift of eternal life will be with Him forever.

  • It is only through faith in Jesus Christ that we are freed from the guilt and penalty of sin, and begin to enjoy eternal life with Him. He came that we might have abundant life.

  • It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit in us that we are brought to repentance and new birth; He enables us to worship God and live lives in holiness. It is the Holy Spirit who develops in us spiritual wisdom and understanding of the Scriptures, and who equips us by all His gifts, for ministry.

  • There is one Church, the body of Christ, of which He is the Head, and which is made up of all who personally acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord. Whilst there are many different expressions of that Church, we are all one in Christ.

  • At His last supper Jesus commanded His disciples to break bread and drink wine together in remembrance of Him.

  • He also commanded His followers to share His Good News with all men everywhere, so that everyone might have the opportunity of being a member of God’s Kingdom, and to baptise those who believe – as a public declaration of repentance from sin and of faith in Him. (Matthew 28:18-19 )