Back in 1935 a team of evangelists came to Holyhead to hold a tent campaign sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and salvation to the people. A marquee was put up on a field at the back of Newry Street. Pastor Edward Jeffries was the leader of the team. Edward’s father Stephen and brother George had already been touring the UK and overseas preaching the gospel and also praying for sick people to be healed.
A great impact was made on the people of Holyhead and large crowds attended meetings every night for many weeks. The pubs and cinemas were left half empty. Lives were changed, people were converted in large numbers and many were healed of their sicknesses. Some are still alive today and can testify to the healing and saving power of Jesus Christ.
Following the outcome of such times of blessing, it was felt that a building was needed to enable people to meet on a regular basis to worship God. A place was chosen in Trearddur Square and was built by uncle and nephew team David and John Williams. The new church was called ‘Bethel Temple’. A minister was appointed to care for the congregation by the name of Pastor Rees Edwards of Ammanford in South Wales. This new pastor worked along with his wife to further the proclamation of the Gospel and extending of the kingdom of God.
Not long after this time, the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance stepped into the work in Holyhead and appointed Pastor Lesley Hawes and his wife in 1945 to lead the church They had a son Gaius and a daughter Pearl. The format of the meetings continued as set out in the beginning. Sunday morning and evening services with Sunday School in the afternoon. Prayer meeting on Tuesday afternoon and Bible study on Thursday evenings. There was a ladies fellowship on Tuesday afternoons and Sunshine Corner meetings ‘For Children under 99’ Also there were Saturday evening celebration gatherings each week and also an after church meeting at 7.30 on a Sunday evening. This enabled members of other denominations who desired to join in the Pentecostal experience to come along and hear words of testimony and song. The singing af the Moody and Sankey Hymns was thrilling for the congregation as they praised God for the wonderful work done in their lives.
