At the end of 2013 a discussion took place between Duncan & Ruth Jack (Callander house church leaders) and Alasdair Black, the Senior Pastor of Stirling Baptist Church (SBC), regarding the possibility of starting another church fellowship in Callander. Duncan and Ruth were leaving Callander, and no one was able to take on the leadership role.

 

At the same time some members of SBC, from Callander and surrounding area, were considering starting a church in Callander to save travelling into Stirling every Sunday.  This would also have potential to encourage others in the area to attend a local church.  A meeting to discuss this was held in February 2014 with an attendance of approximately 60 people.

 

Later that year, SBC provided a Pastor (David Gooding) to establish a regular service on a Sunday afternoon in the Dreadnought hotel, purposely timing this when it would not clash with other local church services. After about 6 months SBC applied to the Baptist Union Scotland for funding to recruit a part-time Pastor for Callander. After a robust recruitment campaign, Brian Gooding took on the role in early 2015. Sunday afternoon services were replaced with 'Sundays@Six' in October 2016 in St Andrew’s Episcopal Church Hall. The time and style of service appealed to many people, with the word of God being preached boldly by Brian each week.

 

The Monday evening Prayer Meeting, which was started in April 2014 to seek God's plan for the area, is continuing on a weekly basis.

 

During Covid (who could have foreseen what would happen world-wide to the regular Sunday service in most churches?) Brian and his wife Iris were beacons of hope, switching to a weekly on-line YouTube service ‘Sundays@Six’, recorded on location (often outdoors and through all seasons!).  People from all over the world tuned in, not only hearing the Word of God preached, but seeing Callander in all its beauty. 

 

Although Brian retired later in 2020, he and Iris did continued to deliver their weekly YouTube services until Easter 2021. As we started resuming regular in-person services through 2021/2022, the time was changed to 4.00pm to accommodate children.

 

With input from SBC, Callander Christian Fellowship became an independent fellowship and registered charity in December 2022.

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We have now appointed a new Pastor, Nathan Swisher, who moved here a couple of years ago with his family from America. They have a heart to see believers in Scotland grow and we are excited to see what God is continuing to do with CCF under Nate's leadership!