The history of the Isle of Wight Christian Fellowship can be traced back to the coming together of three small groups of people who up to 1984 had been meeting independently in their own localities.

The three groups were:

All three groups were relating to Cornerstone under the guiding hand of Tony Morton and the Cornerstone Team. Tony had designated Dave Damp to travel onto the Island frequently and provide input.

In 1984 Tony asked Dave Clarke who was based in Salisbury to oversee the three groups on a weekly basis. Dave Clarke soon expressed the feeling that the three groups should become one. Whereas this possibility had been suggested before, it had never really got beyond the 'talking about it' stage. However, now it seemed to have real significance, and after prayer and consultation the three groups merged to become one fellowship.

At the end of August 1984 these three groups met for the first time as the Isle of Wight Christian Fellowship. They gathered to worship the Lord in the old Grammar School, Lugley Street, Newport. For the next few weeks they continued to gather here, but then moved to a larger hall in Nineacres Primary School. Whilst here the numbers soon grew to approximately 60 people.

The Leadership Team consisted of Ted Airey, Peter Wilson and Andy Stubbings. Within 2 weeks Dick Stubbings and Keith Joyce had been invited onto the Team as well. With the progress of time the leadership team grew in numbers as others were also invited to serve.

Around 1987 while at Nineacres, the Fellowship, said goodbye to Dave Clarke when he withdrew his oversight and concentrated his energies in Bournemouth.

It was during 1988 that the Isle of Wight Christian Fellowship relocated to Archbishop King Middle School. From 1988 to 1990, the Cornerstone Team together with the local leadership, provided the care and nurture for the flock.

During the first half of 1990 Paul Ras who had moved from Zimbabwe to England and was based in Southampton at the time, started to travel onto the Island over weekends and provided ministry and pastoral input. Towards the end of that year it was generally agreed that he would come to live on the Island and fill the position of pastor. The Ras family moved into Cowes on the 27th December 1990.

The last 12 years have been years filled with many challenges and yet many more blessings. In 1994, the Fellowship adopted the Cell Church principles and has since passed through a number of phases in embracing these values. The greatest challenge has been in adapting these principles to suit the culture and paradigms of the British as well as the Island’s lifestyle. Striving to be a Cell Church keeps the IOWCF in a learning curve. The midweek groups are known as L.I.F.E. Groups – an acronym standing for Living In Fellowship & Evangelism.

The formation of two Intergenerational Cells has proved to be an exciting development. In these groups, parents and children meet together to fellowship, worship and gather around the Word of God. Equally exciting has been the results flowing from our three Youth LIFE groups. It is here that the church has seen the greatest growth in new disciples coming to Christ.

Toward the end of 2001 it became apparent that Archbishop King Middle School could no longer accommodate the numbers attending on Sunday mornings, and so in January of 2002 the Sunday services were moved to a larger and more central venue, Node Hill Middle School. These facilities have been a great blessing to the church. The church has also moved into rented accommodation in Newport's High Street from where the administration is carried out. Apart from the offices, the facility provides us with a seminar room, prayer room and a well equipped kitchen.

As our history develops, we pray that it will contain ever-increasing evidence of God’s kingdom forcibly moving forward.