Taking a couple of weeks break from "Jersey As It Is", here's the first of two parts of the history of the Jersey Baptist Church.
An Historical Sketch of the Jersey Baptist Church – Part 1
1817
Prior to 1789, the year of the beginning of the French Revolution, the town of St. Helier was merely a huddle of thatched cottages around the Royal Square. However within the next quarter century the town grew by leaps and bounds and new churches became necessary. It was at this time, in the year 1817, that the Rev. Joseph Ivimey of London, a prominent Baptist minister, visited the Channel Islands and was instrumental in founding one or more Baptist causes in Jersey. The first body of believers worshipped in a meeting house in Wharf Street and the present Baptists in Jersey are direct spiritual descendants of that fellowship.
When Rev. Ivimey came to Jersey in 1817 he would almost certainly have had a long, uncomfortable, if not hazardous, journey in a small sailing cutter, being the only means of communication with the mainland.
The Jersey which he found on his arrival differed greatly from the Island which we know today. Fort Regent, overshadowing the town of St. Helier, had only been completed three years before, in 1814, there were no Albert or Victoria piers at the harbour and no lighthouse at La Corbière, George III was on the throne of England. Methodism was also in its early stages and the first purpose built chapel had been built at St. Ouen's in 1809.
Although the tempo of life was slower, the manner of living was much harsher. For example, public executions were still being held, which even school children were expected to attend.
1820
It appears that a number of Baptist churches came into being in those early days, In 1820 the first large purpose- built church known as the Albion Chapel was erected by the English-speaking fellowship in New Street and soon afterwards the French-speaking Baptists built a chapel in Ann Street. However because of a peculiarity of the Jersey law of that time both chapels had to be sold to meet the private debts of the trustees. The loss of their property was a fatal calamity to both causes and an attempt to restart the Baptist work in 1845 was short-lived.
1864
The scattered Baptists continued to meet in one another's homes. In 1864 a meeting was held at which it was decided that a Baptist Church should be formed in Jersey. Here is a statement from the first minute book:
"On September 4th,1864 at the residence of Mr. Benest, 19 Queen Street, a private meeting of Baptist friends was held in connection with the Jersey Auxiliary of the Baptist Missionary Society. Mr. J.R. Phillips, the Society's Association Agent, was present, and presided at the meeting. After prayer by brother Benest Junior, the claims of the society were considered and plans for the promotion of its interests were resolved upon for the coming year.”
"The brethren and sisters then gave expression to their desire for the formation of a Baptist Church in Jersey. Some present had been making this object a matter of prayer. Prayer was then offered by brother Bunker for Divine guidance and teaching; after which the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:”
1. It having been ascertained that there are a considerable number of baptised believers in the Lord Jesus Christ resident in Jersey, it is hereby resolved that we, whose names are now read, be formed into a Church of which the Lord Jesus shall be recognised as the Only Head and Lawgiver; His Word shall be the sole Rule of Faith and Practice; and His Ordinance of Baptism shall be administered only to Believers on a profession of their faith - Henry Avis, Mary Ann Alexandre, Amice Benest, Margaret Benest, Ebenezer Bunker, Edmund Francis Carrel, Amelia Carrel, John Cabeldu, George Seager.
2. That whilst this Church shall consist of Baptised Believers only, it will cheerfully welcome to its Communion at the Lord's Supper all who may be true lovers of the Lord Jesus Christ,"
The Church then comprised only nine members who were without Pastor, without settled habitation and without any auxiliary organisations.
The first Communion took place at 3 Wesley Street on the 6th November 1864 and the first Baptismal Service in the British School, Aquila Road on Tuesday evening 31st January 1865 there being five candidates, four of whom joined the Church. For some time services were held in members' homes but as the Church grew it became necessary to lease the Temperance Hall in Providence Street.
In June 1865 the Church moved to the little chapel in Grove Street which was purchased from the Congregational Church for £200 and this continued to be the home of the Jersey Baptists for twenty-two years.
At this time the Church was dependent upon its own members for the preaching of the Word.
Although the membership numbered only thirty-two, the Church was now determined to seek the services of a minister and, with aid given from the funds of the "Baptist Irish and Home Mission", was able to invite the Rev. F.F. Metcalf. During his pastorate a school hall was erected and opened in 1866.
The Ministerial appointments for the next two decades were mainly of short duration there being no less than nine during this period.
1870
In 1870 the Island's first railway was opened between St. Helier and St. Aubin. This enterprise may well have encouraged a new form of outreach as the Church, under the energetic leadership of the Rev. George Hider, held additional Sunday afternoon services in a borrowed chapel at St. Aubin.
Cottage meetings were also held at St. Clements. Those baptised during his ministry included three French ladies who were refugees from the Franco-Prussian war.
A great deal of major engineering and building work took place in Jersey about this period. The Elizabeth Castle breakwater was completed in 1872 and the first concrete lighthouse to be constructed in the British Isles, was erected at La Corbière point in the West of the Island, the place was notorious for shipwrecks.
1887
During the pastorates of the Rev. Henry Wallace and the Rev. C.A. Fellowes the Church grew in numbers and found its little building to be too small. In 1887 the French Independent Church worshipping in the "Chapelle Evangelique" in Vauxhall Street, generously offered their building, which was valued at £3,000, for the nominal sum of £700.
The Baptist fellowship decided to buy the building and were greatly encouraged by the local Free Church ministers. After some structural alterations by Charles Le Quesne, a builder and deacon of the Church, the building was opened on Sunday 25th September 1887 by the Rev. Charles Spurgeon of Greenwich. It is in this building that the present Baptists worship.
Following the move to Vauxhall the Church continued to flourish so that in 1889 it was reported that it had a membership of 165, a Mission Station at Town Mills, two Sunday Schools numbering unitedly over 200 scholars-with 30 teachers, a vigorous Temperance Society and two Bands of Hope, a Tract Society, a Ladies Working Party, a Foreign Missionary Auxiliary and a Young Disciples Band with over 40 members.
In 1895 the Church reluctantly accepted the resignation of Rev. Fellowes; during the period of his ministry over 100 members had been received.
1898
In 1898 the Congregationalist body asked the Church to form a Union with them, but the unanimous reply read: "At present to faithfully acquit our responsibilities as regards baptism, we cannot agree to join the proposed union".
1817
Prior to 1789, the year of the beginning of the French Revolution, the town of St. Helier was merely a huddle of thatched cottages around the Royal Square. However within the next quarter century the town grew by leaps and bounds and new churches became necessary. It was at this time, in the year 1817, that the Rev. Joseph Ivimey of London, a prominent Baptist minister, visited the Channel Islands and was instrumental in founding one or more Baptist causes in Jersey. The first body of believers worshipped in a meeting house in Wharf Street and the present Baptists in Jersey are direct spiritual descendants of that fellowship.
When Rev. Ivimey came to Jersey in 1817 he would almost certainly have had a long, uncomfortable, if not hazardous, journey in a small sailing cutter, being the only means of communication with the mainland.
The Jersey which he found on his arrival differed greatly from the Island which we know today. Fort Regent, overshadowing the town of St. Helier, had only been completed three years before, in 1814, there were no Albert or Victoria piers at the harbour and no lighthouse at La Corbière, George III was on the throne of England. Methodism was also in its early stages and the first purpose built chapel had been built at St. Ouen's in 1809.
Although the tempo of life was slower, the manner of living was much harsher. For example, public executions were still being held, which even school children were expected to attend.
1820
It appears that a number of Baptist churches came into being in those early days, In 1820 the first large purpose- built church known as the Albion Chapel was erected by the English-speaking fellowship in New Street and soon afterwards the French-speaking Baptists built a chapel in Ann Street. However because of a peculiarity of the Jersey law of that time both chapels had to be sold to meet the private debts of the trustees. The loss of their property was a fatal calamity to both causes and an attempt to restart the Baptist work in 1845 was short-lived.
1864
The scattered Baptists continued to meet in one another's homes. In 1864 a meeting was held at which it was decided that a Baptist Church should be formed in Jersey. Here is a statement from the first minute book:
"On September 4th,1864 at the residence of Mr. Benest, 19 Queen Street, a private meeting of Baptist friends was held in connection with the Jersey Auxiliary of the Baptist Missionary Society. Mr. J.R. Phillips, the Society's Association Agent, was present, and presided at the meeting. After prayer by brother Benest Junior, the claims of the society were considered and plans for the promotion of its interests were resolved upon for the coming year.”
"The brethren and sisters then gave expression to their desire for the formation of a Baptist Church in Jersey. Some present had been making this object a matter of prayer. Prayer was then offered by brother Bunker for Divine guidance and teaching; after which the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:”
1. It having been ascertained that there are a considerable number of baptised believers in the Lord Jesus Christ resident in Jersey, it is hereby resolved that we, whose names are now read, be formed into a Church of which the Lord Jesus shall be recognised as the Only Head and Lawgiver; His Word shall be the sole Rule of Faith and Practice; and His Ordinance of Baptism shall be administered only to Believers on a profession of their faith - Henry Avis, Mary Ann Alexandre, Amice Benest, Margaret Benest, Ebenezer Bunker, Edmund Francis Carrel, Amelia Carrel, John Cabeldu, George Seager.
2. That whilst this Church shall consist of Baptised Believers only, it will cheerfully welcome to its Communion at the Lord's Supper all who may be true lovers of the Lord Jesus Christ,"
The Church then comprised only nine members who were without Pastor, without settled habitation and without any auxiliary organisations.
The first Communion took place at 3 Wesley Street on the 6th November 1864 and the first Baptismal Service in the British School, Aquila Road on Tuesday evening 31st January 1865 there being five candidates, four of whom joined the Church. For some time services were held in members' homes but as the Church grew it became necessary to lease the Temperance Hall in Providence Street.
In June 1865 the Church moved to the little chapel in Grove Street which was purchased from the Congregational Church for £200 and this continued to be the home of the Jersey Baptists for twenty-two years.
At this time the Church was dependent upon its own members for the preaching of the Word.
Although the membership numbered only thirty-two, the Church was now determined to seek the services of a minister and, with aid given from the funds of the "Baptist Irish and Home Mission", was able to invite the Rev. F.F. Metcalf. During his pastorate a school hall was erected and opened in 1866.
The Ministerial appointments for the next two decades were mainly of short duration there being no less than nine during this period.
1870
In 1870 the Island's first railway was opened between St. Helier and St. Aubin. This enterprise may well have encouraged a new form of outreach as the Church, under the energetic leadership of the Rev. George Hider, held additional Sunday afternoon services in a borrowed chapel at St. Aubin.
Cottage meetings were also held at St. Clements. Those baptised during his ministry included three French ladies who were refugees from the Franco-Prussian war.
A great deal of major engineering and building work took place in Jersey about this period. The Elizabeth Castle breakwater was completed in 1872 and the first concrete lighthouse to be constructed in the British Isles, was erected at La Corbière point in the West of the Island, the place was notorious for shipwrecks.
1887
During the pastorates of the Rev. Henry Wallace and the Rev. C.A. Fellowes the Church grew in numbers and found its little building to be too small. In 1887 the French Independent Church worshipping in the "Chapelle Evangelique" in Vauxhall Street, generously offered their building, which was valued at £3,000, for the nominal sum of £700.
The Baptist fellowship decided to buy the building and were greatly encouraged by the local Free Church ministers. After some structural alterations by Charles Le Quesne, a builder and deacon of the Church, the building was opened on Sunday 25th September 1887 by the Rev. Charles Spurgeon of Greenwich. It is in this building that the present Baptists worship.
Following the move to Vauxhall the Church continued to flourish so that in 1889 it was reported that it had a membership of 165, a Mission Station at Town Mills, two Sunday Schools numbering unitedly over 200 scholars-with 30 teachers, a vigorous Temperance Society and two Bands of Hope, a Tract Society, a Ladies Working Party, a Foreign Missionary Auxiliary and a Young Disciples Band with over 40 members.
In 1895 the Church reluctantly accepted the resignation of Rev. Fellowes; during the period of his ministry over 100 members had been received.
1898
In 1898 the Congregationalist body asked the Church to form a Union with them, but the unanimous reply read: "At present to faithfully acquit our responsibilities as regards baptism, we cannot agree to join the proposed union".
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