Nearly Two Centuries of Gospel Witness
Since the early 19th century, God has been using Brimpton Baptist Church to be a witness to the Gospel and our Lord Jesus Christ within the village of Brimpton and the surrounding county of Berkshire.
From a small gather in of Nonconformists in the early 1800s who were concerned about the lack of Gospel preaching in their region to the present day, Brimpton Baptist Church has stood faithfully on the inerrant truth of God’s Word and sought to see lives changed through the grace of God.
Over the years, various Minute Books and records were kept which tell the story of what God has done in the lives of so many people at our church. Below is a timeline of some of the key events during our church’s history as well as a link to our 170 Year Anniversary Booklet produced during our church’s commemoration of that event in 2013.
A Timeline of Key Events
1800s
- 1828 – Registration of Nonconformist Meeting (5th November)
- 1833 – Registration of Nonconformist Meeting (16th December)
- 1843 – Chapel and Manse Constructed
- 1845 – Charles Rixson called as first pastor
- 1868 – William Skelt called to pastor
- 1875 – Benjamin Josey called to pastor
- 1875 – Oil lamps added to the church and harmonium introduced
- 1879 – John Timms born again and received into membership
- 1885 – H. Clark called to pastor
- 1887 – New pews purchased (probably current ones still in use)
- 1891 – John Skelly called to pastor
1900s
- 1905 – Regents Park College began providing preachers
- 1907 – 10% of income dedicated to missions
- 1913 – Sunday School building built
- 1926 – Spurgeon’s College began providing preachers
- 1935 – Leslie Wyeth called to pastor
- 1944 – “A Century of Witness” published
- 1969 – Richard and Lily Strutt received into membership
- 1984 – Faith Baptist Church constituted (under pastor Tom Dotson)
- 1988 – Faith Baptist and Brimpton Baptist merge and Tom Dotson becomes pastor of Brimpton Baptist Church
- Faith Christian School and Camp Joy become part of the church’s expanding ministries and continue for many years under Pastor Dotson’s ministry
2000s
- 2011 – Martin Wickens called to pastor
- Bible Institute Courses, Missions Conferences, Holiday Bible clubs and Bonfire Night become some of the regular highlights under Pastor Wickens’ minstry.
- 2013 – Brimpton Baptist Church celebrates 170 Year Anniversary
- 2018 – Martin Wickens resigns as pastor & emigrates to the United States
- 2020 – Church services continue despite the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, using live-stream technology and in-person when legally permitted to do so
- 2022 – Damian Pickett called to pastor Brimpton Baptist Church
The Future
The future of Brimpton Baptist Church is just as exciting as its past.
Looking back over our past history, we can see how the Lord has been with us every step of the way. As we continue serving the Lord in Brimpton, we look forward to seeing how God will provide and give us opportunity to glorify Him.
