Winchmore Hill
Baptist Church is a direct descendant of one of the oldest Baptist
churches in England.
It was founded as the
Glasshouse Yard Church in Goswell Street, Finsbury in a leased building.
In 1763 the church
moved to Fair Street, Southwark, and then in 1779 the church moved again
to Worship Street, Finsbury. The church remained there for nearly a
century until in 1875 it moved to Bethnal Green.
Except in the very
beginning the church was a small community and in 1900 the church at
Bethnal Green was attended by fewer than 20 people.
A small group of
Baptists were already worshipping in a house in Station Road and these
joined with the 18 members from Bethnal Green. In 1907 the new building in
Compton Road was opened and dedicated. By 1912 the membership had risen to
167 and over 100 children attended the Sunday school.
In 1923 a Guide
company was formed, (although this was replaced with the Girls’ Brigade
in 1972) and in 1924 a Boys’ Club was started which was then to become
the 10th Enfield Boys’ Brigade. Until 1974 the Church was
also home to a scout troop. Today the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade
Companies are still an important part of the church.
The Church for many
years has had a strong missionary interest, with the first missionary
joining the BMS in 1946. Today the Church supports seven missionaries
working in four Countries.
The Church’s
current minister is the Revd Andy Potter, who joined the Church in
December 2005.