Founded with a mission to introduce others to Jesus Christ. Brentwood Baptist Church has a rich history. Since 1969 the church has grown. So has its calling. It now reaches people in local communities. It also reaches people across the country and around the world.
Brentwood Baptist Church started as a single congregation. It is now a multisite multicultural community. This includes the Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church. It also includes the Brentwood Baptist Chinese Church. The Brentwood Baptist Hispanic Ministry is part of it too. Other locations include The Church at Avenue South. Also The Church at Harpeth Heights. You will also find The Church at Lockeland Springs. The Church at Nolensville. Furthermore, The Church At Station Hill. The Church at West End. The Church at West Franklin. Finally, The Church at Woodbine.
The priorities of Brentwood Baptist Church have not changed. Today the church focuses on engaging the whole person. It shares the whole gospel of Jesus Christ. This happens anywhere. It can occur anytime. It involves anybody.
Baptists have a long history in London. The first Baptist churches appeared in the 17th century. Thomas Helwys led one in Spitalfields in 1612. From the 1630s other churches emerged. One gathered in Wapping in 1638. By 1660, there were over two hundred Baptist churches in England.
These congregations met in homes and warehouses. New converts were baptized in the River Lea. A New Connexion of General Baptists formed in 1770. This group had a strong Evangelical emphasis. It grew while older groups declined.
The 19th century saw a gradual coming together. The Baptist Union formed in 1812-13. It drew in churches from the Connexion. Some felt doctrinal standards were slipping. Strict Baptists emerged. John Stevens, a London Baptist minister, influenced them.
London experienced rapid expansion. There was a flourishing of Baptist church building. The London Baptist Association formed in 1865. It provided funds for church extension. Funds built Baptist churches in various locations. These included Upper Holloway and Victoria Park. Also The Downs and Battersea Park. Surbiton, Balham, Leyton and Highgate Rd also benefited.
The Daily News census counted worshippers in 1902-3. Baptists were the largest Free Church denomination. They had 163052 worshippers. C.H. Spurgeon drew the largest crowd. 2210 people attended his service. It was at the Metropolitan Tabernacle.
Baptist churches were active in deprived areas. Baptist deaconesses played a crucial role. In 1890, a Deaconesses Home and Mission was founded. It undertook medical, social and evangelistic work. Many churches engaged in social action. Some held evangelistic meetings in cinemas.
Church planting was evident in the mid-20th century. Efforts rebuilt churches damaged by WW2 bombing. Black-majority Baptist congregations grew. Calvary Charismatic Baptist Church began in 1994. It had almost 400 members two years later.
Researching a Baptist church can be rewarding. It can also present challenges. Finding a starting point can be difficult. Libraries and archives may seem confusing. This guide explains how to begin your research. It introduces you to available sources.
Look at the building with new eyes. Talk to older members of the congregation. Read about the history of London’s Baptist congregations. The Baptist Historical Society offers resources. These cover denominational history and beliefs. They also cover writing church histories.
Brentwood Baptist Church continues this legacy. It seeks to impact and renew Brentwood. It also wants to go beyond. This is done with the transforming message of Jesus Christ. The message is shared through words and actions. Brentwood Baptist Church welcomes all. It invites you to come as you are. The church would love to get to know you.