Encounter is one of 550 churches that are part of the Elim Pentecostal network of churches in the UK and over 9,000 worldwide. The Elim denomination was founded in 1915 and gained great impetus throughout the early part of the 20^th century.

The name ‘Elim’ was taken from the Bible passage in Exodus chapter 15 - where God’s people, exhausted and dispirited en route from Egypt’s cruel bondage to freedom in Canaan, came to an oasis in the desert (Elim). As the denomination grew with amazing rapidity against the background of two world wars and beyond, this setting proved to be a fitting symbol of spiritual refreshing which very much continues today.