|PIC1|At least 2,000 churchgoers around the world gathered at the funeral of Dr Oliver Lyseight, the founder of one of the largest black Christian churches in the UK. The service was held at Bethel Convention Centre, Kelvin Way, West Bromwich on March 16 at 10.30am.

Lyseight founded the New Testament Church of God (NTCG) in Wolverhampton in 1953, just a few years after World War II when thousands of black people came to Britain from the Caribbean. The congregation then consisted of 25.

Since then it has grown to become one of Britain’s largest black Pentecostal Church denominations, with 120 congregations and 350 trained ministers serving 30,000 followers across Britain alone.

In 2004, a public poll was held that voted Dr Lyseight as joint second in the 100 Great Black Britons.|AD|

Bishop Eric Brown, the current National Overseer of NTCG commented, “Dr Lyseight has left a spiritual and social legacy the black community and the wider Christian community can be proud of. The NTCG has, since 1953 served as a haven for the thousands of Caribbeans that immigrated to the UK during the 50s and 60s.

"Whether they were Christians or not, the NTCG offered them inspiration, hope and support, and helped them to cope with the hardship and difficulties they experienced making a life for themselves here in Britain.”

He continued, “Dr Lyseight’s spirited leadership and vision lives on in the training school he started for ministers, the missionary work he established in Africa and his ecumenical work in the wider Christian community. Dr Lyseight is a fine example of what can be achieved through the efforts of someone who commits their life to God.”

Bishop Joe Aldred, from the Council of Black-led Churches, said: "I think if there is one person in the country who can be credited with being the founder of black Christianity in this country it has to be Oliver Lyseight.”

"That is how fundamental he is."

Dr Oliver Lyseight died on 28th February due to a long-
term illness.