Twenty-five years of God’s faithfulness
Christ Central began in 2001 with a small team and a call to Portsmouth. Twenty-five years later, we are two church families gathering in two parts of the city—and still convinced that Jesus has more for us to do.
More than a timeline
Our story is not chiefly about names, buildings or leaders. It is about Jesus building his church: people hearing the gospel, finding a family, growing as disciples and being sent to serve others.
The shape of the church has changed over the years, but our calling has remained: to bring hope and share truth, and to see lives and communities in, around and beyond Portsmouth transformed by the gospel.
We became Christ Central Church in 2013.
A refreshed our identity for a new chapter after Covid.Our journey so far
Each chapter has been shaped by people who prayed, served, gave, welcomed others and followed where God was leading.
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In September 2001, Richard and Naomi Shaw moved to Portsmouth to plant a Newfrontiers church from Kings Church Hastings. The new church became known as Solent Community Church.
In 2006, shortly after the John Pounds Centre opened, the church began gathering there with a particular sense of call to the PO1 area of the city. It remains the home of our central Portsmouth congregation today.
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Tim and Liz Blaber relocated from Sidcup in 2012 to lead the church into its next season, supported by Guy Miller and the Commission family of churches. In September 2013, the name Christ Central was chosen. An eldership team was formed, deacons were appointed and the church’s mission and vision were given fresh definition.
Adam North joined the staff as Executive Pastor in January 2015. In September 2016, the church took on the management of the Acorn and the Vine, Portsmouth and Southsea’s independent Christian bookshop, serving the city through its Palmerston Road shop and strengthening a valued local Christian resource.
Christ Central sent a team led by Duncan Sills to establish Christ Church Fareham. The new church shared our mission to bring hope and share truth, while growing into a distinct local church serving Fareham and the surrounding area.
This was an important expression of the kind of church we want to be: willing to send good people, release leaders and multiply the gospel beyond ourselves.
Visit Christ Church Fareham
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Adam became Lead Elder in January 2020 as Tim moved into his role as Commission’s Director of Training. Soon afterwards, the Covid-19 pandemic moved church life online. It was a difficult season, but it deepened our understanding of what it means to be a family.
When Covid changed the way we worked, the church relocated its offices to the Acorn and the Vine. The bookshop became not only a place of Christian witness on the high street, but also our office, training base, prayer space and a home for ministry during the week.
During lockdown, Adam set out five culture-shaping values for the next season: kingdom-advancing, charismatic, multiplying, family and every member matters. When in-person gatherings resumed in July 2021, we celebrated by baptising eleven people.
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In January 2022, Langstone Church was welcomed into Christ Central. Its members brought a rich legacy of prayer, children’s work and partnership with other churches across Portsmouth.
Later that year, Christ Central adopted the refreshed visual identity we use today and established a congregation to serve Baffins and Milton. The congregation moved to the Stacey Centre in January 2024, giving it more room to grow and a stronger base in the local community.
2001–2026
In October 2026, we will give thanks for everyone who has prayed, served, led, given, welcomed and been part of this church family. If you have ever been part of Christ Central—or Solent Community Church before it—you are warmly invited to come back and celebrate.
Saturday 3 October
A relaxed celebration with food, fun and space to reconnect.
Party details & bookingSunday 4 October
Worship, stories, thanksgiving and a whole-church meal together.
Service details & booking
The story is still being written
We are grateful for the last twenty-five years, but an anniversary is not a finish line. We are asking God to save more people, raise more leaders, strengthen both our Portsmouth congregations, plant more churches and send more people to serve Jesus in, around and beyond Portsmouth.
There is a place for you in that story. Come and meet us on a Sunday, find a group, discover where you can serve, or simply begin by asking your questions about Jesus.
