Our history
Selkirk Baptist Church
Selkirk Baptist Church has been around for a while! We go back to 1880, when James Brown, a local blacksmith became our first pastor, with a congregation of 19 people!
Our denominational label, “Baptist,” goes back even further. It all started in Europe with the Reformation of the Church in the early 16th Century. Then the first Baptist Church in Britain took root in 1611. Today, we’re nearly 2500 Baptist Churches with 180,000 members.
If you would like to know a little more about Baptist churches, visit the Scottish Baptist Union website here.
Of course, a denominational label is nothing in comparison to our identity as followers of Jesus of Nazareth, through Whom we belong to our Heavenly Father, alongside brothers and sisters from the many other Church traditions in the Scottish Borders and beyond.
Selkirk Baptist Church has been around for a while! We go back to 1880, when James Brown, a local blacksmith became our first pastor, with a congregation of 19 people!
Our denominational label, “Baptist,” goes back even further. It all started in Europe with the Reformation of the Church in the early 16th Century. Then the first Baptist Church in Britain took root in 1611. Today, we’re nearly 2500 Baptist Churches with 180,000 members.
If you would like to know a little more about Baptist churches, visit the Scottish Baptist Union website here.
Of course, a denominational label is nothing in comparison to our identity as followers of Jesus of Nazareth, through Whom we belong to our Heavenly Father, alongside brothers and sisters from the many other Church traditions in the Scottish Borders and beyond.
Our Vision
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Know To know Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour |
Grow As a church, to grow up into mature faith in God |
Overflow To overflow with the Good News in service and evangelism |
Jesus told us to go out into all the world to make disciples…Jesus Followers! And that surely starts with room for our friends and neighbours to ask questions, to examine the experience of believers, to test God’s words, and explore faith until they can say they personally KNOW Jesus.
We at church recognise then, that if we are to introduce friends to Jesus, we must provide platforms or safe spaces for our neighbours to explore faith, without feeling pushed, judged or stupid. One such place must be Sunday morning services, accessible to friends seeking to connect with God.
If KNOWING is an early step along the path of following Jesus, then GROWING shortly follows: growing in relationship, understanding and maturity as believers experiencing God in their daily lives. To grow then, requires time together getting close to Jesus and learning from each other. Our Connect Groups provide that space to GROW.
If we are GROWING, our hearts are changing, filling up with Jesus’ love for our neighbour, which will OVERFLOW into Christian service in our homes and workplace, in our church family and our local community. We have stories to tell about what Jesus means to us, what He has done for us, and we take those stories with us into platforms of service like God’s Kitchen.
The Discipleship Pathway then, provides a map and direction of travel for everyone of us to engage in this most amazing calling, to go into the world and make disciples!
We at church recognise then, that if we are to introduce friends to Jesus, we must provide platforms or safe spaces for our neighbours to explore faith, without feeling pushed, judged or stupid. One such place must be Sunday morning services, accessible to friends seeking to connect with God.
If KNOWING is an early step along the path of following Jesus, then GROWING shortly follows: growing in relationship, understanding and maturity as believers experiencing God in their daily lives. To grow then, requires time together getting close to Jesus and learning from each other. Our Connect Groups provide that space to GROW.
If we are GROWING, our hearts are changing, filling up with Jesus’ love for our neighbour, which will OVERFLOW into Christian service in our homes and workplace, in our church family and our local community. We have stories to tell about what Jesus means to us, what He has done for us, and we take those stories with us into platforms of service like God’s Kitchen.
The Discipleship Pathway then, provides a map and direction of travel for everyone of us to engage in this most amazing calling, to go into the world and make disciples!
Our pastor
Brian Talbot
Brian and Jess Talbot look surprisingly youthful for a couple married 40 years!!! With two young adults and one teenage boy for children, Brian has seen life and times as husband and father and minister in Zimbabwe and here in Scotland. He handles the bible better than a rugby ball but there is hope for him as a new follower of Liverpool Football Club. |
Church leaders
Church Deacons and Office holders
As well as Brian, our pastor, we have a church secretary - Norman, and a Treasurer - Christine. These people are supported by the Deacons - chosen by our members to be part of the leadership team. There are currently three Deacons; Norman, Chris, and Andy.
As well as Brian, our pastor, we have a church secretary - Norman, and a Treasurer - Christine. These people are supported by the Deacons - chosen by our members to be part of the leadership team. There are currently three Deacons; Norman, Chris, and Andy.
Norman - Secretary
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Christine - Treasurer
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Chris Church Deacon
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Andy Church Deacon
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Connections
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Connections, 35 Back Row
Selkirk Baptist Church owns a building in the centre of Selkirk called Connections. Our office is here, and in normal times many of our mid-week activities are based here. On Sundays the building hosts God’s Kitchen, an informal time of hospitality and worship. We look forward to resuming these activities when lockdown eases. At present, the building is used by Selkirk Food Bank as the hub of their operation, so we need to make sure that we avoid going to the building as this may hinder that important work. |