On Whit Monday 1861 the foundation stone for a new Sunday School and Preaching Room was laid at Owlerton – which was then a village a few miles from Sheffield. Owlerton Evangelical Church, as it is known today, was founded as a Wesleyan Reform Union Chapel.
The late Brian Cocker was the lay Pastor of the church for over 50 years. Brian, who went to be with the Lord on Good Friday 2015, was faithfully supported by his wife Anne who continues to serve the church today. Brian managed the family scissor manufacturing business in Sheffield for many years as well as leading the church. Both the church and the factory were known for their uncompromising witness to the Gospel.
In the Autumn of 2015 the church issued a call to the Rev. John Diggle to the pastorate of the church which now serves the Hillsborough district of the city of Sheffield. John was formally inducted to the Pastorate on the first Lord’s Day of 2016. In February 2018 the church set apart Darryll Flint as an Elder at Owlerton.
John and Darryll were later joined as Elder by Mark Fenwick, in November 2019. Mark is another graduate of the London Reformed Baptist Seminary. John Diggle continued to serve faithfully as Pastor until his retirement in December 2020.
In March 2023 Darryll left to assist with the ongoing work at Worrall Independent Chapel, a neighbouring village gospel ministry in the north of the city.
Mark Fenwick remains as the Elder of Owlerton Evangelical church as it continues to look to the Lord in its ongoing service here in Sheffield.