Buckingham Chapel, 1940’s
The history of every congregation is a testimony to God’s faithfulness. He has promised to build His church in spite of countless setbacks and opposition and continues to do so.
Our story begins in 1840 when a few members of the Baptist denomination decided it was necessary to form a non-conformist place of worship in Clifton. This was due to the perceived lack of evangelical teaching in the parish at the time, and also the view that the Anglican church in Clifton offered little welcome to the poor.
The earliest documents indicate that several friends of the Baptist denomination received architectural plans from Richard Shackleton Pope after an initial meeting to discuss how they might form a church which should “exhibit the doctrines and practices of the New Testament unfettered by State Alliance or the traditions of men”.
The building was opened on 2 June 1847, with the first sermon being preached by Rev. J.H. Hinton of London on a phrase from a verse in Psalm 84: “The Lord God is a sun.”
Rev Richard Morris (1849-58)
First Pastor
Due to a general sense that the church had overreached itself when constructing its building, it experienced considerable difficulty in its search for its first pastor. Uncertainty about its future caused a number of preachers to decline invitations to take up the ministry. Finally, the church issued a unanimous call to Richard Morris of Manchester, who accepted and began his ministry on 29 July 1849.
Rev John Penny (1860-83)
First Baptism
The first baptismal service took place on 27 November 1850. Five women, including the daughter of church founder George Ashmead, were baptised. This woman, Miss Eliza Ashmead, remained in membership at Buckingham for the next sixty five years.
Rev Henry Wright (1884-92)
The War Years
The building sustained slight damage during the Second World War, during which period the church hall was used as a rest centre for the homeless. The congregation at this time enjoyed the fellowship of several members of the US armed forces, some of whom took part regularly in worship services and other church activities.
Rev Ron Clark (Pastor 1966-99) with church building before renovation
Independence
As a result of the Baptist Union’s lack of clarity in its teachings on the deity of Christ, Buckingham members approved a resolution to withdraw from the Union on the 7th April 1972. We remain an independent, Evangelical Baptist church.
A much fuller account of Buckingham’s history was prepared as part of the church’s 150th anniversary celebrations and is available upon request.