A little about us...
Here's a little more about the background of the GraceLife Skelton and our plans for the next season:
Grace Community Church Loftus has been praying about a church plant for several years - wanting to see more healthy evangelical Gospel churches in the East Cleveland and North Yorkshire Coast region. In May 2025, Kris Baines was called to serve as one of the full-time pastors at the church in Loftus, with the plan, Lord willing, to lead a future church plant. In the past 6 months or so, Skelton town has been the area we have felt led to focus on. Kris, his wife Becky, and their 8 children are UK citizens and have been back in the UK for 3 years having lived in New Zealand for 26 years. During that time Kris planted a church in Christchurch NZ in 2002 and has also served as a pastor/elder in 2 other churches in NZ. Kris and his family currently reside in Skelton, having moved there when Kris began working at GCC.
The church plant in Skelton will be an outreach of Grace Community Church Loftus. It will remain under the oversight of the GCC leadership until it eventually becomes independent. The church plant will be reformed and evangelical in doctrine and age-integrated (no Sunday school, all ages worshipping together). Priority will be placed upon biblically sound preaching, biblically qualified leadership, biblical counselling, Christ-centred music ministry, corporate prayer, discipleship, upholding the biblical family, believer’s baptism, the practice of regular communion, warm and loving fellowship, and gospel outreach in the community. Please see the 'What We Believe' section of this website for our Statement of Faith & Core Values, or use the 'Contact' section to ask any questions about what we believe/teach/practice.
The church planting pastor/elder will be Kris Baines, who as mentioned above is currently serving as one of the full-time pastor/elders at Grace Community Church Loftus alongside Robin Singleton and Jack Barber. Kris is supported by the ministry of HeartCry as one of their missionaries. We are so thankful to HeartCry for their support of this gospel work. It is anticipated that some members from Grace Community Church Loftus will join the church plant, along with new Christians to the area, and of course those we hope to reach with the gospel.
We have planned some "pre-launch" interest meetings in Skelton for the months of October, November & December. This is not the official beginning of the church plant, but a time in which we can get to know local people interested in the new church and to allow time for them to get to know us. These meetings will consist of a time of worship, teaching, prayer for Skelton and fellowship. We will also give relevant updates and seek to answer any questions. Lord willing, we will officially begin the church plant with a regular Lord's Day gathering in early 2027, probably on Sunday evenings. Please contact us by clicking the button below if you want more information, or if you are interested in being part of these initial meetings - we would love to hear from you!
May the Lord bless you!
Kris Baines - pastor/elder
Ministry Partners & Affiliations:
