West Street Baptist Church, East Grinstead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Street Baptist Church |
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The church from the southeast
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| 51°07′27″N 0°00′32″W / 51.1242°N 0.0089°W | |
| Location | West Street, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 4EY |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| Previous denomination | Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion; Strict Baptist |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| Website | www.weststreetbc.org.uk |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Zion Chapel |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 2 July 1810 |
| Founder(s) | John Burt |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 28 January 1948 |
| Style | Classical |
| Completed | 1811 |
The West Street Baptist Church in East Grinstead, West Sussex, is a special church with a long history. It used to be called Zion Chapel. This church was built in 1810 and was the very first "Nonconformist" place of worship in East Grinstead.
What does "Nonconformist" mean? It means a Christian who is not part of the official Church of England. Over time, East Grinstead became a hub for different types of Protestant churches and other religions. Today, the West Street Baptist Church is still active. It is also a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical building protected by law.
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How West Street Baptist Church Started
East Grinstead is an old town, first settled around the 1200s. It became a market town in 1247, which means it was a place where people could buy and sell goods. The town grew slowly because it was on a hilltop, away from the main areas where timber and iron were produced.
In the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, many people in northern Sussex chose to worship outside the Church of England. This was known as "Protestant dissent" or "Nonconformism." For example, in 1676, a large number of people in nearby Ifield were Nonconformists. The first Quakers (another Nonconformist group) built a meeting house there that same year.
Baptist churches were also popular nearby, and their members would travel to villages like Turners Hill and West Hoathly to share their beliefs. By 1801, East Grinstead had over 2,600 people. Many of them held Nonconformist views.
Building Zion Chapel
In 1810, the town's first non-Anglican church, Zion Chapel, was built. It was connected to the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion. This was a small group of evangelical Christians started by Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon.
A wealthy merchant named John Burt from Forest Row paid for the church. His sons laid the first stone on July 2, 1810. The church was finished and officially opened on April 23, 1811. A famous preacher named Rowland Hill spoke at the opening service.
Early Years and Growth
In May 1811, a Sunday school was started at the church. It was the first one in the area and taught over 100 children. By the next year, more than 400 children attended! The church itself also grew. Galleries (extra seating areas) were added inside to fit 200 more people.
In 1813, a manse (a house for the minister) was built next to the church. More changes were made in 1862, when a classroom and a vestry (a room for changing clothes or storing church items) were added. In 1880, the building was repaired and reorganized. There was a small burial ground in front of the church, but the last person was buried there in 1846.
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In 1824, members of Zion Chapel helped start a new church in nearby Turners Hill. This new church was rebuilt in 1906 and is now an independent Free Church.
In 1847, some members left Zion Chapel to start a new Congregational church. They met in rented rooms before building their own church called Rocks Chapel in 1850. This building was later used by Methodists but was eventually torn down.
Becoming West Street Baptist Church
The Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion sold Zion Chapel in 1980. The next year, members of the Providence Strict Baptist Chapel in East Grinstead moved into the building. Their old church was later demolished.
Today, the building is known as West Street Baptist Church. It is home to an evangelical Baptist group. East Grinstead is known for having many different religious buildings. Besides Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, and Baptist churches, there are also other groups like Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and United Reformed churches. The town also has the United Kingdom headquarters for the Church of Scientology at Saint Hill Manor.
Zion Chapel was officially listed as a Grade II building on January 28, 1948. This means it is a building of special historic interest.
What the Church Looks Like
The West Street Baptist Church is a small building made of red brick. It is built in the Classical style. People have described the brickwork as being of "high quality" and the building as "restrained and dignified."
The front of the church has windows that are shaped like semicircles. The top of the building has a triangular shape called a pediment, also made of brick. Above that is a slate roof. Later additions to the sides and front of the church changed its original look. The old railings that were once in front of the church are also no longer there in their original form.
See also
Images for kids
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In 1824, members of Zion Chapel established a daughter church at nearby Turners Hill (present building pictured).
