Where It Began

The Pentecostal Holiness Church in Bristol has its roots in the early 1950s. In 1952, Dr W.H. Turner attended the World Pentecostal Conference in London where he met Rev. Howard Wallis, who was already pastoring in Bristol. That encounter led to the Bristol congregation being formally organised as a Pentecostal Holiness Church.

In October 1954, Bishop J.A. Synan officially established the British Conference of the Pentecostal Holiness Church — with Bristol serving as its foundational congregation and Rev. Howard Wallis as the first Superintendent. From the beginning, the church was the anchor of the British movement.

"From the very beginning progress was slow and difficult" — yet the Bristol church endured, and the British Conference grew from it.

Faithful Pastors

Over the following decades the church was shaped by a succession of faithful men — among them Noel Brooks and Rev. Shackelford — who kept the Pentecostal Holiness witness alive in Bristol through seasons of growth and challenge.

Today

In 2025, Rev. Christopher Lemuel Turner was appointed Senior Pastor, bringing a renewed vision for the church and a rebranding as PHC Bristol — short for Pentecostal Holiness Church Bristol. The name reflects both the historic identity of the church and a fresh commitment to the city.

Today PHC Bristol holds its covenant relationship under the IPHC UK Conference, and is part of the family of churches within Compassion House and the Compassion Network UK — connected in mission, united in purpose, and rooted in this city.

Our story is still being written. We'd love for yours to be part of it.