History of Calvary Chapel Stockport
Calvary Chapel Stockport first began as an independent mission in Stockport town centre.
In 1978, seeking to develop a more community-minded ministry, the church moved to Bloom St. in Edgeley and began to be known as Immanuel Evangelical Church.
As the years went on, the church diminished and began looking for help to infuse new life into the dwindling congregation. In 1998, the pastor at the time came into contact with Calvary Chapel and began to feel God's leading to hand the ministry over to a new generation of believers. Pastor Ken Sutton came to start a fresh work here in Stockport. He laid a solid foundation of Bible teaching, servanthood, and worship in the body here.
In 2001, Pastor Mike Murray came from CC Lynden, Washington to assume leadership of the ministry. He finished the laying of a good foundation for the church family here by continuing in the Word of God and seeing several people come to faith in Jesus. During this time the church became an official registered charity and also moved from its building on Bloom St. which had become decrepit and unrealistic for the church to support. In 2004, Pastor Mike began to sense God's leading to move back to Canada.
At the CC missions conference in Austria in August of 2003, Pastor Mike had met Kirk Crager who was serving as an assistant/youth pastor at the Calvary Chapel in Rome, Italy. After spending a few days in fellowship both Mike and Kirk believed the Lord had called them together. Mike asked Kirk to come and assist in the work here in Stockport.
After arriving in February of 2004, Kirk began to minister to the youth in the church and prepare for outreach into the community. Over the next few months, Mike felt led to hand over the ministry to Kirk and go back to Canada.
Pastor Kirk has been serving as the Pastor here since July, 2004. Since that time, the Lord has opened many doors into the community for CC Stockport. We continue to be excited about the work the Lord is doing within us and through us.
The fellowship is continuing to grow into the calling that God has for us. You are welcome to join us on a Sunday to see what God is doing!