1804 - Eythorne Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, Eythorne, Kent CT15 4AY - Dated Buildings and Cornerstones on Waymarking.com

The Baptist Church presence in Eythorne is over 450 years old, having began with meetings by Baptists who had fled over the Channel from the Low Countries to escape persecution. 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.

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