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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
Rev C H Spurgeon 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 ...

puffing train 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 ...

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? Text.

1880
Craig Hall
Craig Hall

By 1880 further growth led a move to move to a chapel in Clarence Road which is known today as Craig Hall? Text. 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.

TBC Minutes from 1881

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.

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? Text. 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 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.

1884 Opening Poster
Poster advertising opening
Tin Tabernacle
The Tin Tabernacle

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
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.

Mr Daniel Spencer
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
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
1895 Church Building

Organ Music

Click for an organ rendition of

All Glory Laud and Honour

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' ? Text.

Rev Corbet
Rev Alexander Corbet

Rev Williamson suffered further by having to have his right hand amputated in 1899Motto Text 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.! Text

1900

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