top of page

OUR HISTORY


Brownhill Road Baptist has been standing for 115 years and counting. First built into the building now seen today as Brownhill Road Baptist in 1903, when Sottish MP Archibald Cameron Corbett acquired the land area of Hither Green to build places of worship for the community. 

In the years before in 1899, the land on which the church stands now was secured by the London Baptist Association. They began meeting in a wooden and corrugated iron building known as 'Tin Tabernacle', which was constructed where our church halls stand now. 

The foundation stones for our present church was lain in 1902, with an opening ceremony taking place on July 8th 1903.

The church began with great promise, with a large congregation and a young energetic pastor. Though when it hit a little over its 10th anniversary, the outbreak of war in 1914 saw 100 men associated with the church join the conflict. Their service and commitment to their protect their country and community was commemorated in a memorial called Memorial Buildings in the site of the Tin Tabernacle for use of the Sunday school. And these buildings are used for working amongst the young people of the area until the present day. 

The Depression of the 1930s, as well as the Second World World, took a further toll on the fellowship. Children were evacuated, men and women were called to serve the Armed Forces and other church members joined various Civil Defense services of the country.

During the war, the Memorial Buildings were requisitioned by Lewisham Borough Council for the storage of furniture from bomb damaged properties in the area. The church sanctuary was damaged by a blast in 1944 and was not in use for worship till 1947.

Despite all this, the post-war period was a fruitful one for Brownhill, with new initiatives to reach the community and growth of the fellowship, saw the church return to its large congregations. The church also appeared on television in 1962, when the morning service was broadcast nationally.

Looking back over the years, the history of the church is not the building itself, but of a community of people and their relationship with a loving God, they seek to serve and honour.

A lot can happen in 100 years. Catford is no longer the leafy suburb is once was in 1903. We have moved on from gas-lighting and horse-drawn carriages. We now have a different mix of people in our fellowship, and we praise God for it!

As we look back we are aware of all the individual lives through God's guidance, have helped shaped the history of our church. Some served here for many years, tirelessly seeking to reach local people with the good news of Jesus. Others have made a brief impact and moved on. They have served through personal testimony and meetings and organisations of all kinds. Some, supported by the membership here, have sought to serve God in other countries and situations.

church_edited.jpg
bottom of page