History of NBC |
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The Early Years Local historians tell us that there are vague references to Baptist nonconformist meeting in the Northchurch area as far back as the 17th century. At that time it was illegal for more than five people to meet together for worship "...other than that allowed by the liturgy of the Church of England." It is recorded that in 1665 twenty "malefactors and disturbers of the peace" were found worshipping in a Northchurch barn and were given the alternative of paying a pound fine or going to prison for three months! By the early part of the 19th Century, however, Baptists no longer had to worship in secret and it was in the early 1830's that a small group began to meet together for prayer and Bible study in the Northchurch home of Mr William Norris, a member of New Mill Baptist Church ,Tring. Soon after this village preachers connected with New Mill began conducting Sunday evening services in the same Northchurch home. In 1835 Mr Norris King fitted up a house, which he owned in Northchurch, as a more permanent place of worship During the next four years the work grew steadily, and early in 1839 the small group resolved to secure a more convenient place of worship. It is amazing that very soon after this a small piece of land in Bell Lane, now known as the burial ground, was given, by Mr Norris, for the construction of a new Baptist Chapel. Donations from many Christian friends in the neighbourhood enabled a start to be made on the building in a remarkably short time, and with much thanksgiving the chapel was opened for worship on 16th September 1840 at a cost of just £140. In the next year a group of eight local adults were baptised by immersion in Chesham and they formed themselves into the founder members of Northchurch Baptist Church on 30th November 1841. Within 2 years the membership had more than doubled to 17. In 1869 the church was able to call its first pastor, Mr George Clarke of Tring. In 1878 the Bell Lane Chapel was extended to provide school rooms and a vestry. By 1887 the membership had grown to 43. As the work developed over the next decade the building in Bell Lane became too small and so in 1900 the present building was erected in the High Street. In 1920 the old chapel was demolished and the resulting material was auctioned and resulted in £141.  The site of the old chapel. Very little modification was carried out to the building until the new hall extension was opened in 1987. In 2004, in faith, we purchased the cottage next door to the church, Cherry Tree Cottage, to provide more accommodation and space for whatever God has planned for the future. This is currently being used for prayer and youth work. Memories By the very nature of things the memories of those who worked and worshipped over the years at NBC, and are still alive today, only go back as far as the time between the two World Wars. As well as this there are some who can recollect the memories of the chapel told to them by others now departed. In particular there was a great character Len King. Although he died in 1967 there are still members who can remember his stories of both the chapel and the village of Northchurch. He remembered being taken to Sunday School in the chapel in Bell Lane and being married in the present building 5 years after its opening. After the First World War Len helped in the demolition of the old Bell Lane Chapel and recalls that they raised £141 from the sale of old materials. This was the same amount as it cost to erect the chapel 80 years earlier. He recalls one, unnamed, deacon who used to ride a three wheeled tricycle to church and for taking stock to the market in Tring. Several of our older members remember Alderman F Stratford JP who was Honorary Lay Pastor. He started in 1925 for a period of 12 months but ended up staying for 27 years until 1952. It was during Pastor Stratford's ministry that the Young People's Fellowship started in 1938. Programmes included activities such as Bible searching, quizzes, spelling bees, daffodil shows and even a debate on "Should women have equality with men?" The result of the debate is not recorded! The last 40 years Our minute books show that the pastorates at NBC since 1965 have been as follows: 1965 - 1969 Mr Cliff Bonnett, Lay Pastor 1969 - 1972 Rev Dr Alexander Hodge, Pastor 1972 - 1977 Rev Dr Derek Tidball, The first full time Pastor in this era. 1977 - 1981 Rev Trevor Galpin, Pastor 1981 - 1995 Rev Dr Lance Birks, Pastor 1982 - 1985 Alan Spicer, Assistant Minister 1986 - 1989 Rob Stacey, Assistant Minister 1991 - 1996 John Hennings, Assistant Minister 1992 Arthur Hembling recognised for Ministerial Training 1992 - 2001 Durrants Church Plant 1993 - 1995 Gareth Dickinson, Youth Worker 1995 - 1996 Justin Dunne, Youth Worker 1995 - 2001 Rev Peter Swaffield, Pastor 1996 - 2002 Volunteer workers for office duties 1996 - 2001 Rev David Russell, Youth Worker 1998 - 2001 Rev Richard Pool, Associate pastor 2001 - David Russell, Pastor 2001 - 2006 Andy Moody, Youth Worker 2002 - Barry Cook, Part time Administrator 2002 - 2003 Betty Gadbury , Part time Pastoral Worker 2005 - Ricardo Cyrino, Part time Evangelist/Community Worker 2005 - Tommy Masters, Pastoral Assistant 2007 - Lucy Bannister, Youth Worker During this period we praise God for the increase in membership from 38 at the end of 1965 to just under 200 today, and rejoice over the many who have become Christians and been baptised at NBC. |
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This page was created on Sunday 17 June 07 and last updated on Monday 22 December 08 |
