Rev John Adams
In the first half of the nineteenth century Mr Graham started New Street Chapel, Worthing and Pastor John
Adams was for many years the very effective Minister who, also
actively supported evangelical witness in a number of surrounding
villages, encouraging lay helpers to take part in this work.
One of these was Mr George Robert Paul,
who at his own expense built a chapel at Angmering in 1847. When Mr
Paul went to live in Canada, Pastor Adams invited Mr Graham to take
Mr Paul’s place at Angmering. For a number of years Pastor Adams
also had care of Arundel Baptist Church and Mr Graham was responsible
for the building of the Chapel at Nepcote, Findon.
Mr Adams was a great innovator and
encourager but sadly after his Ministry, the New Street Chapel
declined. It can be said that the work at Christchurch Road largely
took over the ‘Home Mission’ enterprises of New Street Chapel,
and as the district developed it.
Rev W F Stead 1878 - 1883
On the first Sunday in January 1878, a
student of the Pastors’ College began a series of services in
Worthing at the suggestion of Rev Charles Haddon Spurgeon. These
services were at first held only on Sunday evenings in the Temperance
Institute in Ann Street. Afterward a morning service and an
afternoon prayer meeting were added.
Four months later the Montague Hall, a
much more suitable building, was secured, and here the first
Communion service was held in May of that same year. The first
Baptismal Service was conducted at Shoreham on 8th August
1878.
Mr Spurgeon had generously agreed to
pay all the expenses for six months. The first Anniversary was
celebrated on 14th January 1879, when it was announced
that £160 had been received towards the cost of building a place of
worship. A number of Baptismal Services were followed by definite
proposals for the formation of a church. On 14th
May 1879 Rev Thomas Spurgeon conducted a service in the afternoon,
and at the evening meeting the student was invited to the Pastorate.
The call was accepted and Rev W F Stead began his work as the first
Minister.
The present site, on the corner of
Christchurch Road and Cambridge Road, was purchased in 1880 for £446.
A school – Chapel, costing £630 was opened on 15th
March 1881 by Mr Henry Varley Next >>
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