Short answer

Pentecostals are Christians who believe the whole Bible, trust in Jesus alone for salvation, and expect the Holy Spirit to work today just as He did in the book of Acts, with the baptism in the Spirit, speaking in tongues, spiritual gifts and healing. Spring Valley Church is a Pentecostal church affiliated to Assemblies of God Great Britain.

Ordinary Christians first

Pentecostals believe what Christians have always believed: one God in three Persons; Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, born of a virgin, crucified for our sins and raised bodily; salvation by grace through faith; the Bible as God’s inspired and authoritative Word; the return of Jesus. On the essentials we stand with believers across the world and across the centuries.

What makes us Pentecostal

The name comes from the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the first disciples (Acts 2:1-4). Pentecostals believe that what happened then was not a one-off. Peter said, The promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself (Acts 2:39).

So we believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a distinct experience of power for service, with speaking in tongues as its biblical evidence; in the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) operating in the church today; in divine healing provided for in the atonement; and in worship that is heartfelt and free. Paul’s instruction, Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1), is something we take at face value.

What that looks like on a Sunday

Expect lively, sincere worship, people praying aloud, prayer for the sick, the Bible preached plainly and a warm welcome in several languages. Expect ordinary people who have been changed by Jesus and who believe He still changes lives. You will not be pressured or put on the spot.

Spring Valley Church belongs to Assemblies of God Great Britain, a family of Pentecostal churches with a shared Statement of Faith. You can read ours in full on our What We Believe page.

How this connects across the Bible

The Bible is one story. Here is how this theme runs from the Old Testament to Jesus:

  • Pentecost was first a harvest festival in Israel’s calendar (Leviticus 23:15-16); on that day God gathered the first harvest of the church (Acts 2:41).
  • Moses wished that all the LORD’s people were prophets with His Spirit on them (Numbers 11:29); Joel promised it (Joel 2:28-29); Peter announced it (Acts 2:16-18).
  • The Spirit anointed prophets, priests and kings for their tasks (1 Samuel 16:13); Jesus, the anointed One, gives that Spirit to all His people (Acts 2:33).
  • Habakkuk foresaw the earth filled with the knowledge of God’s glory (Habakkuk 2:14); the Spirit-empowered church carries that knowledge to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

What we believe at Spring Valley

Spring Valley Church is a born-again, Spirit-filled Pentecostal church affiliated to Assemblies of God Great Britain. Our beliefs are rooted in the authority of Scripture and shaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our Statement of Faith and Core Values are on the What We Believe page.

Our full Statement of Faith

Your next step

Come and see for yourself on a Sunday, or read What is the baptism in the Holy Spirit? to understand the experience at the heart of Pentecostal life.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Read the Bible free in Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, English and many more languages at bible.com.