In May 1977 those of us from the Durban Brethren assembly who were living in areas west of Durban met at one of the Durban elder’s homes in Cowies Hill to explore the possibility of starting a meeting with activities to nurture our young families and to which our children could invite their local school friends. We were in happy fellowship with the large Durban assembly, then in Gumtree Avenue, and some had leadership responsibilities there which made the prospect of leaving difficult, yet the future spiritual needs of our families had to be considered and our home church, part of the ‘Brethren’ revival movement which began in the 1830’s in many parts of Britain and which had spread to the colonies by the end of the century, was in full agreement. There were 16 present at the meeting to discuss the formation of a new assembly of whom 13 were to eventually form the nucleus. It was agreed to start with an interdenominational Sunday School in Westville North, as there was no such Gospel activity in the then newly developing residential area, to meet for the Breaking of Bread, initially, once a month from 21 August and to commence a week-night Bible study and prayer meeting at the Cundill’s Cowies Hill home. Fifty six children turned up at the old Atholl Heights Primary School in Kinloch Avenue on 1 August 1977 and this grew steadily and quickly to over 100 encouraging us to proceed with the rest of the work and regular weekly Sunday meetings.
After a week’s teaching on assembly principles from the late Frank McConnell and with the blessing of the Durban Assembly, the “Westville Assembly” commenced on Sunday 18 September, in the Women’s Institute Hall in Cowies Hill. The first elders were Derek Cundill, Brian Andrews and Ian Layzell, the first chairman of the Atholl Heights Primary School’s governing body. The Cundills, who had done much of the groundwork, were transferred to Holland the very next month and were sorely missed. That the meeting continued to grow after their departure was an indication to us that the work was the Lord’s and not dependent on any one personality. In fact, of the 17 adults who formed the first membership, 6 were to move away from the area within the first few months. The Lord however saw fit to add others to the number and by the first Business Meeting on 22 January 1978 there were 22 in fellowship. That year a Ladies’ Home Bible Study was started by Mrs Jackson, one of the mothers, in her home with 3 of her neighbours with Mrs Andrews as teacher. It grew to 40 meeting in the home of Mrs Eikenaar then moved to the Westville North Library Community Room when the Eikenaars moved from the area. A Sunday evening Outreach meeting was also begun as was a Friday night Youth evening which saw over 100 teenagers attending at times.
Without any full-time workers, all in fellowship in the early ‘eighties were fully involved in all of the little church’s activities, of which the most demanding was the Sunday School. Stretched as we were, we were asked to take over a second Sunday School in Pitlochry Primary School, complete with teachers, which had been started as a Methodist wayside Sunday school by the Moorehouse family some twenty years previously but who were no longer resident in the area. We were their last resort as none of the central Westville churches were willing to take it over. Our numbers, still numbering in the low twenties in fellowship, would be stretched still further yet we took it and at this time of need, two families with assembly leadership experience moved to Westville from the Cape in the early ’80’s. the addition of the Kruger and Payne families strengthened the church and numbers grew steadily, attracting many teenagers who had been through the Sunday Schools. In 1982 the assembly meetings were moved to the newly built Westville North Community Hall. This was a “large upper room, well furnished” with wall to wall carpeting and air-conditioning which was a boon in the summer months and provided the ideal venue for the Friday evening Youth meetings which saw over 100 teenagers attending. Although we had to share the facility with another church which had just started up in the same area, it served us well until our numbers grew to 80. After special meetings with the Kosins from the USA in 1992 we realised that a larger venue was needed if we were serious about wanting to grow, and in July that year the meetings moved to the new Atholl Heights School Hall in Methven Road where we ran the Sunday School and in which we continue to meet with the blessing of the Principal and the Governing Body under the name of Atholl Heights Family Church. In 2002 a couple who had been active in the assembly was invited to return from London to join the leadership and be responsible for the work among the Youth, on a part-time, supported basis. Under their guidance the Friday night Junior and Senior Youth groups have each grown to over 40 and their musical abilities have been a blessing to the church.
Over the years the assembly has grown not only in numbers but also in commitment and activity. It has been a joy and a privilege to see families from the area coming to know the Lord, joining the fellowship, and helping in the work. The Lord has blessed the small venture that started in faith 33 years ago and the assembly grew to a hundred strong a few years ago. This number has been reduced since then through business transfers, relocations and the passing away of older members, but the church has grown together and known the joy of Christian unity and liberty as we have sought to put New Testament church principles into practice, proving that the Lord’s Word is totally reliable. Younger men with young families are taking up the responsibility of leadership and fellowship is being maintained with all the Christian churches in Westville through the Westville Ministers’ Fraternal. As veteran missionary to Central Africa, Dan Crawford, said many years ago in a retrospective message, “Hats off to the past, coats off to the future.” For the future is as bright as the Lord’s promises, none of which have ever failed. The Westville Assembly is testimony to the on-going work of the Spirit of the Risen Lord Who continues to build His church today as He did in the time of the Early Church, through the lives of a few dedicated believers who love Him and His Good News and one another.
After a week’s teaching on assembly principles from the late Frank McConnell and with the blessing of the Durban Assembly, the “Westville Assembly” commenced on Sunday 18 September, in the Women’s Institute Hall in Cowies Hill. The first elders were Derek Cundill, Brian Andrews and Ian Layzell, the first chairman of the Atholl Heights Primary School’s governing body. The Cundills, who had done much of the groundwork, were transferred to Holland the very next month and were sorely missed. That the meeting continued to grow after their departure was an indication to us that the work was the Lord’s and not dependent on any one personality. In fact, of the 17 adults who formed the first membership, 6 were to move away from the area within the first few months. The Lord however saw fit to add others to the number and by the first Business Meeting on 22 January 1978 there were 22 in fellowship. That year a Ladies’ Home Bible Study was started by Mrs Jackson, one of the mothers, in her home with 3 of her neighbours with Mrs Andrews as teacher. It grew to 40 meeting in the home of Mrs Eikenaar then moved to the Westville North Library Community Room when the Eikenaars moved from the area. A Sunday evening Outreach meeting was also begun as was a Friday night Youth evening which saw over 100 teenagers attending at times.
Without any full-time workers, all in fellowship in the early ‘eighties were fully involved in all of the little church’s activities, of which the most demanding was the Sunday School. Stretched as we were, we were asked to take over a second Sunday School in Pitlochry Primary School, complete with teachers, which had been started as a Methodist wayside Sunday school by the Moorehouse family some twenty years previously but who were no longer resident in the area. We were their last resort as none of the central Westville churches were willing to take it over. Our numbers, still numbering in the low twenties in fellowship, would be stretched still further yet we took it and at this time of need, two families with assembly leadership experience moved to Westville from the Cape in the early ’80’s. the addition of the Kruger and Payne families strengthened the church and numbers grew steadily, attracting many teenagers who had been through the Sunday Schools. In 1982 the assembly meetings were moved to the newly built Westville North Community Hall. This was a “large upper room, well furnished” with wall to wall carpeting and air-conditioning which was a boon in the summer months and provided the ideal venue for the Friday evening Youth meetings which saw over 100 teenagers attending. Although we had to share the facility with another church which had just started up in the same area, it served us well until our numbers grew to 80. After special meetings with the Kosins from the USA in 1992 we realised that a larger venue was needed if we were serious about wanting to grow, and in July that year the meetings moved to the new Atholl Heights School Hall in Methven Road where we ran the Sunday School and in which we continue to meet with the blessing of the Principal and the Governing Body under the name of Atholl Heights Family Church. In 2002 a couple who had been active in the assembly was invited to return from London to join the leadership and be responsible for the work among the Youth, on a part-time, supported basis. Under their guidance the Friday night Junior and Senior Youth groups have each grown to over 40 and their musical abilities have been a blessing to the church.
Over the years the assembly has grown not only in numbers but also in commitment and activity. It has been a joy and a privilege to see families from the area coming to know the Lord, joining the fellowship, and helping in the work. The Lord has blessed the small venture that started in faith 33 years ago and the assembly grew to a hundred strong a few years ago. This number has been reduced since then through business transfers, relocations and the passing away of older members, but the church has grown together and known the joy of Christian unity and liberty as we have sought to put New Testament church principles into practice, proving that the Lord’s Word is totally reliable. Younger men with young families are taking up the responsibility of leadership and fellowship is being maintained with all the Christian churches in Westville through the Westville Ministers’ Fraternal. As veteran missionary to Central Africa, Dan Crawford, said many years ago in a retrospective message, “Hats off to the past, coats off to the future.” For the future is as bright as the Lord’s promises, none of which have ever failed. The Westville Assembly is testimony to the on-going work of the Spirit of the Risen Lord Who continues to build His church today as He did in the time of the Early Church, through the lives of a few dedicated believers who love Him and His Good News and one another.