Our Story
For over sixty years, Newington Free Church has been a place where people have gathered, in good times and bad, to worship a God who is always dependable.
​
Here are some milestones on our journey . . .
Beginnings
In 1959, the Ramsgate Free Church Federal Council booked a school room on the newly-built Newington Estate with the idea of holding weekly services for a trial period. On the very first Sunday, seventy people turned up - a great start!
In 1961, James Peet was chosen to be the first pastor of the church, and work began on raising money for a permanent building. Thanks to an amazing gift of £4,000 from Hampstead Garden Suburb Free Church, a hall was built and officially opened on 28 July 1962.
New decade, new minister
By 1970 the church had around forty members and a flourishing children's and youth work.
In August that year, Colin Edmondson was inducted as minister (five weeks before his wedding to Wendy!). Colin served as minister till 1977. Wendy remembers this as a time when there was "a steady increase in the congregation and always loads of children. Happy days, tough days"!
Enlarging the building
By the end of the 1970's, the need for additional space and facilities was apparent. A new extension was built and officially opened on 13 November 1982.
Today it is used Monday to Friday by the Rock of Ages Nursery, as well as for special events.
Into the 21st century
Since the turn of the century, Newington Free Church has been a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB).
​
Ministers during this time included Peter Alexander, Alison Kitchener, Terry Allen and (currently) Robin Plant. Here's Alison at Newington's 50th anniversary in March 2011.
​
Sixty Years!
On 24 July 2022, we met in the prayer garden to celebrate sixty years since our building opened. Members - some of whom had been part of the church since its early days - shared memories and told of how God has blessed them here.
We wrote these down and put them, along with photos and other items, in a time capsule, which we buried under the praying hands sculpture in the prayer garden.
