Duke Street Church, Richmond facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Duke Street Church
The front of the church building in 2018
Location	Duke Street, Richmond TW9 1DH
Country	England, United Kingdom
Denomination	Conservative Evangelicalism
Website	www.dukestreetchurch.com
History
Founded	1870
Founder(s)	Frederick Brotherton Meyer
Architecture
Years built	1962

The old Octagon building, used from 1881 to 1961

Duke Street Church is a Christian church located on Duke Street in Richmond, South West London. It follows a type of Christianity known as conservative evangelicalism. The church has a rich history, originally starting with a Baptist tradition. It is connected with several Christian groups, including the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) and the Evangelical Alliance.

History of Duke Street Church

The idea for Duke Street Church began in 1868. A student pastor named Frederick Brotherton Meyer started gathering people. In 1869, he asked Charles Spurgeon, a famous Baptist leader, for help to create a permanent church.

The church officially started in 1870 with 47 members. It was first called Parkshot Church and met in a temporary building made of iron. This building was located near Park Lane.

• Moving Closer to Town

The church wanted to be closer to the town centre. So, in 1878, the original church building and land were sold. Another church, Christ Church, Richmond, was later founded at that spot.

• The First Duke Street Building

In 1881, the first Duke Street building was finished. It was shaped like an octagon and built from stone. This building was known as Duke Street Baptist Chapel. At first, the church faced challenges. But by 1946, it had grown so much that it was too small. Sunday evening services even had to be held at Richmond Theatre.

• The Current Church Building

In 1950, the church bought a nearby dance hall called Princes Hall. In 1962, Sir Cyril Black opened the current church building. It was named Duke Street Baptist Church and had a large hall that could seat over 600 people. In the early 2000s, the church was renamed again to its current name, Duke Street Church. Later, in 2010, a cafe, meeting rooms, and offices were added. The main hall was also greatly improved in 2022.

The new Duke Street Church building in 1962

Other Early Baptist Groups in Richmond

Even though some thought Duke Street Church was the first Baptist group in Richmond, there is evidence of an earlier one. Around 1715-1730, a Baptist church existed in Richmond led by Thomas Flood.

• Rehoboth Chapel and Salem Baptist Chapel

By the 1850s, another Baptist group called Rehoboth Chapel formed on Kew Foot Road. In 1861, a disagreement caused some members to leave Rehoboth Chapel. Thirteen members started a new group called Salem Baptist Chapel in Richmond.

They first met in rooms on Church Walk. From 1863 to 1887, they met in a building now known as the Dome Building on the Quadrant. This building had different names over the years, including the Mechanics Institute and the Royal Assembly Rooms. In 1888, Salem Baptist Chapel moved to Parkshot Road. Finally, in 1973, it moved to Kew and became Kew Baptist Church before closing in 2021.

The original location of Parkshot Church (1870) on an old map

Senior Ministers of Duke Street Church

Parkshot Church in 1870

The current Senior Minister of Duke Street Church is John Samuel. He started his role in 2013. Before coming to Duke Street, he was a pastor at Grosvenor Road Baptist Church in Dublin, Ireland.

• Previous Senior Ministers

One of his predecessors was Dr. Liam Goligher, who served from 2000 to 2012. After leaving Duke Street, Dr. Goligher became well-known in the United States. He discussed different ideas about Christian teachings, which led to a big discussion called the Great Trinitarian Debate. A popular Christian magazine, Christianity Today, wrote about him and this debate.

List of Senior Ministers

• Sir Eric Richardson

Sir Eric Richardson (who passed away in 2006) was a long-time member and leader at Duke Street Church. He was recognized for his important work in higher education. He led three institutions that later became universities. Sir Eric Richardson was also a significant leader in evangelical Christianity during the 20th century.