William Brock

William Brock (1807-1875) served an apprenticeship to a watchmaker and then worked as a journeyman tradesman before becoming a ministerial student at Stepney College in 1830. He began his pastoral career at the Baptist church at St. Mary’s, Norwich (1833-1848), before removing to the newly established Bloomsbury Chapel in London, where he remained as pastor until 1872. Brock became one of the most prominent Baptists of his day, noted for his outreach programs to young people and the disadvantaged, as well as his support for foreign and home missions, including the YMCA. He was actively involved in youth and adult education during his time in Norwich (which may explain the reference to a “Literary” Institution in letter 244). He served as president of the Baptist Union in 1869. For more on Brock, see Charles M. Birrell, The Life of William Brock, D.D. (London: James Nisbet and Co., 1878); Faith Bowers, A Bold Experiment: The Story of Bloomsbury Chapel and Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church 1848-1999 (London: Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 1999).