History

The Baptist cause here in Addiscombe had its beginnings in the heart of James T. Cole, who became the first Pastor of Morland Road Baptist Church (now known as ABC).  On coming into the neighbourhood to reside (25 Stroud road, Woodside) in 1897/8, James Cole believed that there was a good opening for Gospel work, and so he commenced a series of open-air services on Sunday evenings. 

 

With this, and aided by his wife and two daughters, he combined house-to-house visitation with the distribution of C. H. Spurgeon's sermons.  It wasn't long before a building was required to assist this Gospel work, and a room was rented in a cottage along Edward road (possibly 59) to commence Sunday evening services.  These proved successful, and so followed a Sunday school, a Band-of-Hope, and a Christian Endeavour Society.

 

Several other Baptists joined in this Gospel work to support Pastor Cole, eventually deciding to form an Open Communion Baptist Church.  Along with Cole's family, the newly formed Church began with a membership comprising of: Rev. Edward William Tarbox, Charles Deayton, Francis John Marnham, William Henry Hunt, William Hart, Frederick Lewis Edwards, Frederick Charles Carter and Harry Edgar Bryant. These men of faith were also the guarantors in the purchase of the property.

As the work grew the rented accommodation became too small, and so they procured the present plot of ground around 1900 for £550, from a Mr G. Badham.   A wooden framed, corrugated-iron building was soon and speedily erected, at a cost of £475, and duly opened around December 1901.  Over the next 7 years the Gospel work grew significantly, especially in Children's work, reaching a total of 200.

 

The original building still stands (as at October 2009), and also looks much the same, despite its post WW2 re-roof following bomb damage. James Cole pastored the Church for several decades, in excess of 33 years. We are delighted to be continuing such a rich legacy.