Leonard Ravenhill said “we have to travail in prayer before we can triumph with power”. This was beautifully portrayed in the city of Leeds in 1920 where God used the Pastor of a small Pentecostal church to seek the face of the Lord in Prayer for a move of God. He fasted often and prayed boldly. He along with others, laid siege to the throne of God Almighty because they believed the biblical promise, “call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not” (Jeremiah 33:3). They laid a foundation of prayer for great revival.
Welsh evangelist George Jeffreys was then invited to the small church where he preached Christ crucified. In three weeks 3000 people were touched by the power and love of God and many healings took place. This move of God because there was the travail of souls, days and weeks of prayer by daring Christian in spite of criticism. It was in 1910 that Thomas Henry Jewitt became the pastor of Mount Tabor Mission. At that time the church was in Mount Tabor Place in the Burmantofts area of the City. The church grew steadily and in 1921 moved to Bickerdyke Street, off York Road, where it became known as Mount Tabor Pentecostal Church. In 1927, Pastor Jewitt invited the evangelist George Jeffries (seen with his hand on the foundation stone) to conduct a two week mission. This was to be a defining time in the life of the church. The Salem central hall was booked for two weeks where meetings were held every afternoon and evening; the crowds coming to the meetings were so big that many had to be turned away! More than 2000 people responded to the gospel during this fortnight. The church became so large that they could no longer meet in Bickerdyke Street. For the next four years from 1927 to 1931 they rented different buildings in the city, including the Albert Hall in Cookridge Street, (now the Carriageworks Theatre). During this time, Pastor Jewitt and the leaders bought some land in Bridge Street.
The church building we are in today was built and officially opened on Saturday 30th May 1931. It was called Bridge Street Pentecostal Church. Pastor Jewitt passed away in 1940 having served the church for 30 years. The church has been on its present site since this time and during that time has planted a daughter church in Boston Spa. We have purchased the adjoining three-storey building to help with expanding community works. To see more information see the church website
http://www.bridgestreetchurch.org/index2.php?id=12
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