Our Story
We are so glad you have decided to explore Crabtree Church.
For more than seventy years, Crabtree Church has been a valued part of the Harpenden community — a place where people of all ages and backgrounds gather for worship, fellowship, and the shared pursuit of faith in Jesus Christ.
Over the decades, the church has served as a spiritual home for many in Harpenden and the surrounding areas.
We are an independent evangelical church with a multi-generational congregation, committed to the teaching of Scripture and the life of the local church.
Everything we do is focused on building a Christ-centred community that transforms lives. Our passion to equip disciples to live out God’s purpose, and we believe that every person has a right to know that Jesus is alive.
Our services reflect both continuity with our historical roots and an ongoing desire to serve the present generation with clarity and conviction.
Our origins can be traced to a Brethren Assembly that met in the West Common area of Harpenden. Between the two World Wars, the congregation remained relatively small, typically numbering between twenty and thirty people.
Despite its modest size, this early community established a firm foundation of biblical teaching, prayer, and fellowship that would shape the church’s future development.
In the years following the Second World War, the congregation experienced significant growth, influenced in part by wider evangelical renewal movements, including the ministry of Billy Graham and the Greater London Crusade.
As interest in Christian faith increased across the region, attendance at West Common Hall steadily outgrew the available space.
Providentially, land on a new housing development along Crabtree Lane — originally designated for a Baptist church — became available when it was no longer required. This opportunity enabled the congregation to establish a permanent home.
Through generous giving, land sales, and support from the Laing Trust, a new building was constructed by Jack Dennis & Co. of St Albans. Opened on 27 November 1954 and initially known as Crabtree Lane Hall, it became the centre of the church’s expanding ministry.
In 1993, the church was renamed Crabtree Church to give it a more contemporary and accessible identity. Twelve years later, in July 2005, it opened a new, larger back hall, funded largely through significant member contributions.
The church has long supported community families, with a “mums and tots” group starting in the mid-1970s, which later became the weekly “Little Fishes” group.
Today, Crabtree Church continues in this heritage as part of the Evangelical Alliance, working alongside other churches and ministries across the UK to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and live out the mission entrusted to the Church (Matthew 28:16–20).
Leadership Team
Pastoral Leaders
Pastoral Support Group
