Our Church's
History
Before 1869
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Some time between 1614 and 1626 the first congregation of Baptist Christians began to gather in Coventry, probably under the leadership of Rev Helwys.
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25 August 1822 William Jarvis held the first General Baptist meeting in a room in Bell Court, a brewery yard in Much Park Street, and by 1823 a church was formed.
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24 April 1825 They opened St.Mary’s Mission chapel in Whitefriars Lane able to seat 300.
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In 1851 classrooms and a gallery were added increasing the capacity to 500.
1869-1950
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4 May 1869 A new chapel opened in Gosford Street (opposite the William Morris building).
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26 August 1922 A new hall was added behind.
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25 October 1928 Coventry celebrates 300 years of Baptist churches in the city.
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In 1930s Gosford St church members express interest in new housing estates in Stoke where no church existed.
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20 October 1940 A Nazi bomb damages the chapel in Gosford Street, so for three weeks the congregation worships with St Michael’s Baptist congregation in Hay Lane.
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14 November 1940 The building in Hay Lane is destroyed. so the combined congregation meets in rear hall at Gosford Street behind the damaged church.
1950-1968
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The War Damage Commission offers money to rebuild both churches in Gosford Street and Hay Lane.
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Vacant land on the Poets estate in the eastern suburbs is obtained for the Gosford Street congregation.
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14 January 1950 A basic hall with a small kitchen, vestry and baptistry opens its doors on corner of Meredith Road and Tennyson Road, with the Sunday School using Ravensdale Junior School.
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30 September 1954 The Hay Lane congregation move into Quinton Park Baptist Church.
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1 December 1956 A sunday school room was added behind Meredith Road and named after Joseph Garlick.
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And an extension with more toilets and a further meeting room were added behind.
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During that time the following were our ministers:
1940-1955 Rev Joseph Richards
1955-1959 Rev Elvet Bryn-Jones
1960-1966 Rev Richard Garrett
1968 to date
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19 October 1968 Family services begin in the newly-opened octagonal sanctuary.
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A lounge named after Joseph Richards is added behind the platform.
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9 September 1972 we celebrated 150 years since the first congregation gathered in Much Park Street.
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1984 In partnership with St Bartholomew's we helped to plant a church in Binley Woods. Around the same time some members moved to strengthen Lawrence Saunders Road Baptist in Coundon.
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Recently the following have been our ministers:
1966-1972 Rev David Beer
1972-2009 Rev Maurice Markham
2009-2014 Ian Burton
2014-2022 Rev Mike Asbery