Beginnings – The Master’s Plan

In 1986, under the leadership of Mr. Bob Knight, a group of people began meeting as Bethel Gospel, a non-denominational evangelical church. They worshiped in the Lion’s Den of the Caledon Community Complex, Caledon East under his leadership until 1987 when Bob, whose niche was clearly children, resigned to minister with the Canadian Sunday School Mission. Rev. John Baptist, accepted the invitation to act as interim pastor until the spring of 1988 when the search for another candidate provided a co-pastor in William Henderson. Within a year, John withdrew to minister closer to his home and on November 22, 1988, William (Bill) Henderson was officially called as Senior Pastor and ordained by the laying on of hands.

God’s Higher Purpose

In 1992 through a series of events, circumstances and people that God supernaturally moved into the picture, the church doubled in size as it was received into membership of the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches of Canada (FEBCC). The name was changed to Caledon Hills Fellowship Baptist Church (CHFBC) to represent the regional scope of its outreach and new affiliation.

A lease agreement was secured to use the old Knox Presbyterian Church building in downtown Caledon East and the 120 seat auditorium soon overflowed with enthusiastic worshipers. More space was needed as families with young children were drawn into the church. Once again, God providentially provided through the donation of a large portable off the Air Canada tarmac that was placed in the backyard of the church building and used for the growing Sunday School and youth classes.

By the year 2000 the congregation had outgrown the little building. The township informed the church leadership that the understructure of the auditorium was in danger of collapsing and ironically the search for more space led the church back to the Caledon Community Complex where, because of the larger and still growing congregation, they occupied the much larger upstairs facility.

Growing In Leaps & Bounds

Again, the need became evident for a dedicated church building, where the many programs and sustained growth could take place. In 2001 a beautiful piece of property on 48 acres, just north of downtown Caledon East was purchased. The large house on the property was renovated for church offices, meetings and smaller programs. Summer baptismal services held in one of the many ponds on the property proved to be most inspiring and the enthusiastic church continued to grow. In 2005, after several years of preparation and prayer, the congregation broke ground and through the Baptist Builder’s program of the FEBCC, Caledon Hills Fellowship Baptist Church began an aggressive building program.

Over the years, through the leadership of multiple Elders and Deacons the Lord has sustained us in guarding and disseminated the gospel of saving grace. In 2002, Ed Smit was called to serve as Associate Pastor for one year. Then, in the same role from 2004 until 2017, the Lord provided Brian Carnahan to oversee the Youth and Growth Groups.

When asked about the history of Caledon Hills Fellowship, Lead Pastor/Elder Bill Henderson says, “Without exaggeration everything our church has ever accomplished of eternal value is a credit to our Great God and every inadequacy and weakness has been ours. We are by no means perfect, but we count it an awesome calling and responsibility to endure in our faith and practice with biblical fidelity shining the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus into our surrounding communities and beyond. It is our goal to love God completely and others sacrificially.”

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
Romans 11:36