I did not expect such a small church to have such a massive impact on me. Yet, the visit was the highlight of my church history studies at Oxford a few summers ago. It was a nondescript building halfway covered by a house right in front to its left side. The uncovered right half featured a driveway (fitting maybe four cars?) that led to the entrance. Frankly, you feel as if you are walking through somebody else’s driveway before you are unexpectedly greeted by what has the appearance of a church only due to its peaked triangular-shaped roof. I was perplexed.

Just days before, I had visited the tremendous Metropolitan Tabernacle where Charles Haddon Spurgeon, known as the “Prince of Preachers,” pastored for over 38 years, reaching thousands. Though the original building was burned down, what you visit today was rebuilt along the original perimeter. It seats about 6,000, and it is impressive.

But the small church at 12A Artillery St., Colchester, in Essex, the East of England, caught me off guard. There was no big parking lot…

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