Abundant Life Church
Encyclopedia
The Abundant Life Church is a large Christian
neocharismatic church
based in Bradford
,in the north of England
, which is part of the British New Church Movement. It is led by senior Pastor
s Paul and Glenda Scanlon.
The church also has a second location in Belfast
, as well as an extension service in Leeds
city centre. The church describes itself as "one church, three locations". In 2003 it had an attendance of over 2,000 people; by 2006, the figure had climbed to 2,800.
movement of Arthur Wallis
. It was founded in 1976 by Bryn Jones
, one of the early Restoration/British New Church leaders, by an amalgamation of three small Bradford churches - a charismatic
Brethren
Assembly based at the Bolton Woods Gospel Hall, an independent charismatic church made up mostly of former Baptists who had been unable to continue in their church because of their charismatic beliefs, and the New Covenant Church, a fellowship originally under the apostolic leadership of G. W. North. In its early days it met in the Anglican Church House and so has often been known locally as Church House. In 1988, the church spent almost £1 million to buy a former textile mill on Wapping Road and build a main building with a car park at the rear. In 2000, the church extended the campus, constructing an auditorium capable of seating 2,000. In 2008, the auditorium itself was extended, creating space for a day care centre, a coffee shop, and additional offices and meeting rooms.
"Since becoming the Senior Pastor, Paul has successfully led the church through a period of reinvention – which has become known as our ‘Crossing Over’ – the fruit of which is seen in the thriving & strong Church we are today. His leadership has also seen the launch of the Abundant Life Leadership Academy, the Abundant Life Network of churches."
, Abundant Life Music, which currently has a publishing and distribution deal with Integrity Music. Through the church's label, the worship band and youth band have produced several praise and worship
albums. On May 31, 2010, the church released its first project on record label
Integrity Music, "Name Above All Names", under the name ALM:uk. The church formerly partnered with Authentic Media, now a part of Kingsway Communications
.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
neocharismatic church
Local church
A local church is a Christian congregation of members and clergy.Local church may also refer to:* Local churches , a Christian group based on the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, and associated with the Living Stream Ministry publishing house.* Parish church, a local church united with...
based in Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
,in the north of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, which is part of the British New Church Movement. It is led by senior Pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
s Paul and Glenda Scanlon.
The church also has a second location in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, as well as an extension service in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
city centre. The church describes itself as "one church, three locations". In 2003 it had an attendance of over 2,000 people; by 2006, the figure had climbed to 2,800.
History
Abundant Life Church has its roots in the Charismatic RestorationCharismatic Restorationism
The British New Church Movement is a neocharismatic evangelical Christian movement associated with the Charismatic Movement of the 1960s, although its origin both predates the Charismatic Movement and has an agenda that goes beyond it. It was originally known as the "house church movement", a name...
movement of Arthur Wallis
Arthur Wallis (Bible teacher)
Arthur Wallis : itinerant Bible teacher and author. Through his teaching and writing, most notably his book The Radical Christian , Wallis gained the reputation of ‘architect’ of that expression of UK evangelicalism initially dubbed ‘the house church movement’, more recently labeled British New...
. It was founded in 1976 by Bryn Jones
Bryn Jones
Bryn Jones is the name of:*Bryn Jones , Welsh footballer*Bryn Jones , Welsh footballer*Bryn Jones , Welsh footballer*Bryn Jones , Welsh footballer...
, one of the early Restoration/British New Church leaders, by an amalgamation of three small Bradford churches - a charismatic
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
Brethren
Plymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
Assembly based at the Bolton Woods Gospel Hall, an independent charismatic church made up mostly of former Baptists who had been unable to continue in their church because of their charismatic beliefs, and the New Covenant Church, a fellowship originally under the apostolic leadership of G. W. North. In its early days it met in the Anglican Church House and so has often been known locally as Church House. In 1988, the church spent almost £1 million to buy a former textile mill on Wapping Road and build a main building with a car park at the rear. In 2000, the church extended the campus, constructing an auditorium capable of seating 2,000. In 2008, the auditorium itself was extended, creating space for a day care centre, a coffee shop, and additional offices and meeting rooms.
Paul Scanlon
Paul Scanlon is the Senior Pastor of Abundant Life Church. He and his wife, Glenda, have served on the pastoral staff for more than 27 years."Since becoming the Senior Pastor, Paul has successfully led the church through a period of reinvention – which has become known as our ‘Crossing Over’ – the fruit of which is seen in the thriving & strong Church we are today. His leadership has also seen the launch of the Abundant Life Leadership Academy, the Abundant Life Network of churches."
Music
The church has its own record labelRecord label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Abundant Life Music, which currently has a publishing and distribution deal with Integrity Music. Through the church's label, the worship band and youth band have produced several praise and worship
Worship Music
Worship Music is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It is their first album of original material since 2003's We've Come for You All and the first to feature original singer Joey Belladonna since 1990's Persistence of Time...
albums. On May 31, 2010, the church released its first project on record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Integrity Music, "Name Above All Names", under the name ALM:uk. The church formerly partnered with Authentic Media, now a part of Kingsway Communications
Kingsway Communications
Kingsway Communications is a prominent British literature and music publisher of Christian material. It is one of the largest media related companies working the field of Christian interest. Since 1993, Kingsway has been a subsidiary of David C. Cook...
.
Discography
- Higher (2000)
- Divine ExchangeDivine ExchangeDivine Exchange is the second live praise and worship album of the Abundant Life Church in Bradford.-Track listing:# Intro# "I Am Changed"# "I Will Bless the Lord at All Times"# "You Are My God"# "Divine Exchange"# "Hallelujah to the King"...
(2002) - God Is HereGod Is HereGod Is Here is the third live album of the Abundant Life Church in Bradford, England.-Track listing:# God Is Not Going To Be Pleased About This Prelude – 2:45# "God Is Not Going To Be Pleased About This" – 5:33...
(2003) - Sing (2004)
- How Loved (2004)
- Let the World See Jesus (2005)
- Send Me (2007)
- Name Above All Names (2010)
Youth
- RPM: LiveRPM: LiveRPM: Live is the debut EP of RPM, the youth group of the Abundant Life Church in Bradford, headed up by Worship Leader/Songwriter/Youth Pastor Jonathan 'Jock' James. It was recorded on October 15th 2004 and released at the end of March 2005. It was the number one in the UK Christian album charts...
(2005) - I Surrender AllI Surrender AllI Surrender All is the debut LP of RPM, the youth group of the Abundant Life Church in Bradford. The CD was released with a bonus DVD, featuring four songs from the album, a documentary on the youth group, a promotional video for RockNations , and scores for all the songs...
(2006) - Give My AllGive My AllGive My All is the second full-length live album by RPM, the youth band of Bradford's Abundant Life Church. The CD was released with a bonus DVD, featuring four songs from the album, a "Rocknations Backstage Pass", and a multi-angle feature....
(2007) - Sound of Praise EP (2010)
Sources
- The Times, 28 March 1988, "Spectrum: The feeding of the five thousand"
- The Times, 9 February 2002, "Christians urged to worship pop idol"