Eythorne Baptist Church - Eythorne, Kent, UK
Posted by: 
MeerRescue
N 51° 11.888 E 001° 15.962
31U E 378850 N 5673286
Eythorne Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, Eythorne, Kent, CT15 4AY.
Waymark Code: WMEDW1
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/13/2012
Views: 2
The Baptist Church in Eythorne claims to be the oldest Baptist church in Kent,
probably the oldest in the UK too. The first meetings by Baptists, who had fled over the Channel from the Low Countries to
escape persecution, took place in Eythorne over 460 years ago. The Baptist writer J.J. Goadby named Eythorne as one of the
three "most ancient Baptist churches in England". However, the original meeting
house was sited in Coldred Road. Until 1750 the Church had forbidden singing at
the meetings, but 50 years later that had apparently changed.
On January 29th 1804
church members were called together to consider a proposal made by Peter Fector,
Esq, a wealthy land-owner who lived near the Old Meeting House. It is said that
he objected to “The Hearty Singing” which came to his ears from the worshippers
across the way. His proposal was that he should purchase the Old Meeting House
for £500 “lawful money of Great Britain”. He would also give an acre of land on
Langdown, up on which to build a New Chapel. The seating of the Old Meeting
House to remain the property of the Church. The minute book records “that after
mature deliberation excepting two or three sisters, we unanimously agreed to
accept this offer”. That 'new' church building is the current Eythorne Baptist
Church.
A book entitled "Eythorne - Our Baptist Heritage" may be viewed
on the church website
here.