Our Multimedia History ..... begins below
Before 1877
Until the 1870s, those of Baptist persuasion who lived in Teddington
walked to Union Street Baptist Church
in Kingston upon Thames, two and a half miles away, twice every
Sunday as this was the nearest Baptist Church at this time.
Baptist Outreach and Population Growth |
In 1865, Rev Charles Haddon Spurgeon
helped establish the London Baptist Association (LBA) for mission and church planting.
By 1876, 62 new churches had been founded in London and its suburbs.
New opportunities were sought ...
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In 1863 the railway arrived, transforming Teddington from a village into
a commuting suburb of London - the population grew rapidly.
In 1867 a Teddington Board of Works was established, followed by a hospital (1875),
a cemetery (1879), and ...
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1877
In 1877, some Baptists living in Teddington felt it was right to meet nearer home.
They rented a small room over a cafe in Bridge Approach, Waldegrave Road,
Teddington, where they met under the title of Spurgeon's Metropolitan Country Mission or
"Metropolitan Tabernacle Country Mission"
and there worshipped weekly.
However, they soon found the congregation outgrew that room and moved
to an upper room at the junction of Causeway and Broad Street,
now occupied by Barclay's Bank.
1880
Craig Hall
By 1880 further growth led a move to move to a chapel in Clarence Road
which is known today as Craig Hall.
Among those who ministered to them at this time were friends and
students of Rev Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
On 28th April 1881 a meeting was held at which Mr W Wallis
was asked to become Treasurer
and Mr W G Bryant to be Secretary.
The first entry in a handwritten note book (possibly minutes of meetings but
equally possibly personal notes kept by Mr W Wallis) is shown below
The Mission mentioned in this entry would be the Metropolitan Tabernacle Country Mission.
April 28, 1881 Baptist Chapel, Clarence Road, Teddington
A special meeting of the friends was held.
Messrs Keys, Hayward and Chambers attending as a deputation from the Mission.
at which it was:-
Proposed by Mr Keys Seconded by Mr Chambers
that Mr Walter Wallis be asked to act as Treasurer and W G Bryant as Secretary.
Carried unanimously.
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So it was that the Church moved along the path to 'become independent and self-supporting'.
In July that year a London City Missionary working in Little Queen's Road, Teddington,
Mr John Greenwood, was invited to accept the oversight of the Church (which he did until the end of the year).
In August 1882, Mr Joseph Clark and Mr J P Chalmers began
serving the Church as a 'very Paul and Barnabas'.
Mr J T Dunn, an elder at Metropolitan Tabernacle,
where Rev C H Spurgeon ministered to large congregations, came on
23 October 1883 to establish Teddington Baptist Church on a formal basis,
with an offer of financial assistance from the
Metropolitan Tabernacle Country Mission Fund.
It was still a small company of believers with just seventeen founder
members.
The following day they held a public meeting, and then on 25 October 1883
the first Church Meeting decided to call
Mr Joseph Clark as Pastor working with Mr J P Chalmers.
(The same two men who had been serving the Church since August 1882.)
Mr Joseph Clark
Mr Clark knew of an iron building suitable for a church and was given immediate
authorisation to proceed with its purchase - it became known affectionately as the
"Tin Tabernacle".
On Sunday 30 March 1884 the newly erected iron building was opened on the current
site in Church Road and sacrificial giving that day raised £51 from the 200 congregation.
On 24 April 1884, 12 people were baptised in the new baptistry.
A friend of the fellowship, Rev E H Brown, made it possible to
purchase land at the rear of the church for future expansion.
In October Mr Joseph Clark became sole pastor and Mr Chalmers
was given a fond farewell. On 16 October 1884, the Church ended its dependence
on the Metropolitan Tabernacle Country Mission and launched out
with firm faith and trust in God.
1885
Rev Alexander Greer
In 1885 Mr Clark resigned and the Rev Alexander Greer was invited
to take his place. However, two years later he left and the pastorate
was vacant for a further two years. Meanwhile Mr John Gibb became
Church Secretary and during his 25 years in this post
exercised an considerable influence on the spiritual and domestic life of the Church.
Rev Daniel Spencer
The interregnum was broken for 7 months, February to October 1889
by Rev Daniel Spencer.
Although Rev Spencer resigned in October 1889, he continued to serve the Church
by preaching from time to time until May 1891 after which he moved to Canada.
Despite the difficulties with finding a permanent Minister,
by 1888 the membership had grown to 90 with a Sunday School of
some 130. This growth pointed to the need for a larger building and in 1890 it
was decided to purchase an adjoining plot of land, as the existing
site was not large enough for the proposed building.
1890
Around 1891 Rev R J Williamson was invited to take up the
pastorate bringing an 'era of gracious and blessed ministry'.
Rev Williamson oversaw the formation of the 1st Teddington Company of
the Boys Brigade in 1892. This transferred to the
Christ Church Schools in Station Road in 1901 and it met there until 1907.
Rev Williamson pressed the need for the new building and in 1894, the
membership of 146 accepted the tender of £2918 from
Mr Donald Stewart, of Wallington, for the work.
Rev R J Williamson
The dedication service of the completed building with seating for 560
took place on 21 November 1894.
1895
The official opening of the new building took place
on 23 January 1895 and the organ installation in April.
The 'Tin Tabernacle' was re-erected at the rear of the new buildings
alongside 5 Walpole Crescent.
1895 Church Building
However, not all Rev Williamson's times were happy: his wife of twelve months
died early in his ministry and he went on to suffer with a complaint in the foot which
eventually resulted in its amputation in 1897.
During his long absences an old college friend, Rev Alexander Corbet
was invited to take the oversight 'as far and for as long as was
necessary'
.
Rev Alexander Corbet
Rev Williamson suffered further by having to have his
right hand amputated
in 1899
and on 2 September, to use
his own words, 'after finding the borderland to be very beautiful'
he passed over the border to meet his
King.
1900
Down to following years
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