Cornerstone Church, as we know it today, is a thriving church of around 1100 adults and children, meeting together on Sundays at Castle Boulevard, and around the city in midweek smaller groups. Yet the story of God’s hand of blessing upon our church stretches back for many decades!
1980s
In 1982 members of Hyson Green Baptist Church in Palin Street experienced a rift with the Baptist Union due to a change in the BUs theological position. At a church meeting in November 1982 the members voted to form a new Church called ‘The Cornerstone Evangelical Church’ affiliated to the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) and to purchase premises in Raleigh Street. The church was led by Peter and Valerie Lewis. Peter was an expository bible teacher who was well known in the evangelical community and who wrote a number of books during the course of his ministry. The church grew as more and more students and then families came and a number of people were preparing to serve the Lord in churches in the UK and in ministry overseas.
1990s
In the 1990s, Cornerstone had outgrown its Raleigh Street premises, and found a secondary school near Wollaton Park to house its Sunday services. Over the next 20 years the church continued to be blessed by contemporary and biblical worship, teaching and community life. Numerous International Workers were commissioned and sent to serve God in different countries of the world, whilst people from many nations came to Nottingham and Cornerstone to work, study or find refuge. To sustain and develop these many ministries, growing numbers of leaders and staff were appointed.
2008
In 2008, we experienced the Lord’s leading to prepare to leave the school premises, and find a location for our own facilities. The church gathered together for prayer, fasting, and seeking the Lord. The call to sacrificial giving rang throughout the church, and the Lord prompted our hearts to fresh levels of service and giving, raising £2.7 million to buy the site on Castle Boulevard, which then housed the MFI showroom and warehouse. Further giving has raised a total of £4.5 million, and we have a mortgage of £1.6 million.
2012
We moved into our new premises in September 2012, tremendously thankful for all the Lord’s generosity and blessings upon us so far.
2015
This move was followed in 2015 by the transition from Peter & Valerie's leadership to that of a new leadership team, led by John Russell.
2017
Saw an exciting new chapter open as we planted Redeemer Church Nottingham, based in Beeston. 80 adults and over 30 children and young people from Cornerstone were sent to begin this new church, with Pete Brown as the Minister. If you would like to learn more about Redeemer Church you can visit at the website at redeemerchurch.org.uk
2019
The Lord laid on our hearts the two words 'Kingdom Ambition', and we are spending the year seeking him for how we are to make disciples of Jesus Christ in Nottingham, all nations and the next generation in 2020-2030. You can hear more about this here: Kingdom Ambition 2020-2030
2020
"The Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes" Psalm 118:23.
As we embark upon this new decade with Kingdom Ambition, our first first step was to move to 3 Sunday Services. We pray that the Lord will continue to give us faith to grow into the future.
