Julian Hardyman inducted as Pastor at Eden

The interview The laying on of hands

October 5th was an occasion of great joy as Julian Hardyman was inducted as Senior Pastor at Eden Chapel, Cambridge, bringing an end to a three year interregnum. Julian had been Associate Pastor at Eden for six years.

Among those in attendance there was strong representation of other Cambridge churches and a considerable number of people who had travelled from around the UK. Revd Mark Ashton of St Andrew the Great (representing Cambridge churches) and John Risbridger of UCCF (representing the Eden's emphasis on ministry to students) led prayers, and the service was conducted by the outgoing moderator Revd Robert Amess, chairman of the Evangelical Alliance. He expressed optimism about the future of the church grounded in God's grace and in his faithfulness to the church in recent history and in the provision of Julian.

Revd Peter Lewis, Pastor of Cornerstone Evangelical Church Nottingham, preached on Psalm 103, leading the congregation through every verse of this hymn of thanks. He noted how Eden had been through a difficult time in the preceding years, and that many outside viewing Julian's activity within the church had seen God's marking him out for the role he was now to undertake. The church had seen fine biblical expository preaching in the past, and would continue to be committed to scriptural exposition.

Julian studied English at Oxford, and worked in printing and publishing before joining the staff of Cornerstone Evangelical Church Nottingham. Thereafter he trained at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois. He is married to Debbie, a community dentist, and they have three children: Robin (9), Fiona (7), and Kitty (2).

Report by Peter J. Williams (elder at Eden Chapel)
Photos by David Lawson