Shirley Baptist Church, Southampton facts for kids
Shirley Baptist Church is a Christian church located in Southampton, England. It is part of the Baptist Christian group. The main church building is on Church Street in an area called Shirley. The church was started a long time ago, in 1852. It is also a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, which connects many Baptist churches across the country.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
The first church building was built in 1852. It was on some empty land on Church Street. Over the years, the church grew bigger.
Growing Stronger
From 1889 to 1930, a leader named Reverend Edgar Pullen helped the church grow a lot. By the end of his time there, nearly 500 people were members! Because so many people joined, the church needed a bigger building.
A New Building
The church built its current, larger building during the First World War. This new building opened in 1915. It was made to hold all the new members and help the church continue its work.
People Connected to the Church
Sometimes, famous people have connections to local places. Shirley Baptist Church has one such connection.
John Harry Dunning's Visit
A well-known economist named John Harry Dunning briefly attended Shirley Baptist Church. This was in 1952, when he first moved to Southampton. He was staying in a house nearby at the time.
However, he later moved to a different area called Thornhill. His new home was closer to Thornhill Baptist Church, so he started going there instead. He remained a part of that church for the next 14 years.
