Our History

Kings Church Hastings started in 1974 as a small house fellowship of 5 people. By 1978 it had developed a close working relationship with Terry Virgo, leader of Newfrontiers, and consisted of two home groups led by Don Smith (who founded King's Church Eastbourne), and John Groves (now leader of Winchester Family Church). Since those small beginnings the church has grown to 350 adult members with over 150 children and young people, and we now meet in own our own building called The Hastings Centre. This is a former indoor cricket centre located in an area of outstanding natural beauty opposite the Conquest Hospital on the Ridge in Hastings.

For some time now, God has challenged us to rediscover and re-emphasise some of our root values from those early days. This has happened under the guise of 'Cell Church' values and we have spent several years transitioning into a cell-based church. Each cell is a living unit intended for building one another up in love for God, love for one another and love for all who don't yet know Jesus. The cells are small groups that meet in homes, usually on a midweek evening. As new people join the church body the cells grow and multiply.

Being a cell-based church does not mean we abandon meeting together as a larger congregation. In fact, the Sunday morning congregational meetings are very important because they help to provide unity and direction for the cells. However, we are becoming increasingly aware that it is in the cell where love, community, relationships, ministry and mission spring up naturally and powerfully in a larger church.

We are also very involved in local, national and international communities through initiatives such as our thriving parent and toddler groups, lunch club for the retired, Pregnancy Crisis Service, youth and children's work, the Conquest Hospital Chaplaincy Team, and mission to some of our nation's inner cities. Our mission overseas includes close links with children who are victims of AIDS in South Africa.

The three senior leaders of our church are called elders, just as we find in the New Testament Church. They are Nigel Dutton, Matt Beaney and Paul Mann.