James Smith

James Smith (1781-1839) was the third itinerant minister hired by the Essex Baptist Association for Home Missions (formed in 1796). The first two itinerants were James Pilkington at Rayleigh and William Bolton at Thorpe le Soken. Smith began his work at Bures in 1802, and then spent some time at Rochford Hundred, Great Wakering (where he opened a day school), Barling (where his preaching led to a mob scene instigated by the local magistrate), and finally at Ilford in 1808, a church founded in 1801 by members of the Harlow and Mile End congregations. Smith replaced John Hutchings and remained at Ilford until 1834. At the time of his arrival in Ilford, no established Anglican work existed, causing fears among some that all of Ilford might become overwhelmingly Baptist due to Smith’s efforts. His practice of open communion, however, led some members to succeed and form the Ebenezer Strict Baptist Church. For the most part, though, Smith’s ministry at Ilford was successful, with membership reaching nearly 100 by 1830. Smith was also engaged in considerable village preaching while at Ilford, assisting in the founding of the Loughton church, led by one of Smith’s members, John King. In 1834, Smith removed to the Ebenezer Chapel, Shoreditch, London (in 1836 it became the Providence Chapel, Hackney Road), where Smith preached until his death in 1839.  See Doris Witard, Bibles in Barrels:  A History of Essex Baptists  (N.p.: Essex Baptist Association, 1962), 57; Frank H. Smith, The Story of Ilford (High Road) Baptist Church 1801-1951 (Ilford: C. W. Clark, [1951]) 10-11; Couling, “Biographical Dictionary, 1800-1875.”