“A church near the parish church?” you might wonder. Right here, where Acton Community Church stands today, once lived a fascinating figure named Richard Baxter. It was 1663 when Baxter, a prominent Puritan divine, settled near the Acton parish church after being ejected from Kidderminster in 1662. He noticed something peculiar about Acton. The previous Independent ministries of Philip Nye and Thomas Elford had, unintentionally, weakened the ‘Independent separating vigour’. Their strict communion practices resulted in only two individuals from the entire parish being admitted. When the Act against Conventicles finally lapsed, people flocked from surrounding parishes to hear Baxter preach. But Baxter, in a surprising move, also led his followers back to the very same parish church! This unusual practice meant a separate church wasn’t established. Nonconformist gatherings seemingly faded after Baxter’s departure in 1670, particularly after complaints from the then rector, Bruno Ryves, led to his prosecution for conventicles.
Southfields Methodist Church
Curiosity stirred within the heart of Southfields as a new chapter began. Southfields Methodist Church held its first public service