Kent Street Baptist Church
Portsmouth, England

This church originated in the Parish of Alverstoke where about 20 godly persons, convinced of the propriety of believers baptism by immersion received that Ordinance, and were formed into a church in the year 1696 under the pastoral care of the Revd John Webber.

About the year 1704 a considerable number of the numbers removed to Portsmouth Common (now Portsea) and those who continued with Mr Webber soon declined in number and the Society became extinct.

The people of Portsmouth Common increasing purchased the ruins of a Romish Chapel at Netley Abbey near Southampton, and with the materials erected a Meeting House and were favoured with the ministry of the Revd John How till the year 1728 when from some unknown cause he left them and removed to Folkston in Kent.

The church now increased to about 30 or 40. After the Revd Jos.h (Joseph?) Curtis occupied their pulpit for One Year, but declined taking the Pastoral Office on account of one dissentient voice. This gentleman baptised 14 persons during his stay; among who was Mr J.Lacy who subsequently became their Pastor.

The Revd John Mercer from Tenterden afterwards preached to them for one year and then removed to the Isle of Wight.

The Revd John Brown succeeded to the pastoral office who after one years residence among them removed to Christchurch in this County.

They then were in expectation of the Revd Mr Wilson from London but were disappointed by his rather sudden decease.

At a Church meeting it was now resolved to look no longer for a minister from a distance, conceiving it to be altogether unnecessary as they had among themselves two young men of good talents and of eminent piety and well-qualified to conduct the worship of God. Viz. Mr John Lacy and Mr Daniel Whitewood the former of whom in 1733 became their Pastor and the latter assistant preacher. Under the joint labours of these ministers the church increased and they were under the necessity of enlarging their meeting house at the expense of £180.

About the year 17-- (no year recorded) Mr Samuel Meadows a blind man of great mental endowment was called to the work of the ministry from among them, who after the decease of Mr Whitewood in 1765 continued to preach in common with Mr Lacy till 1780 when death closed his useful ministry.

Mr Horsey and Mr Miall had been called to the Ministry by the Church previous to the death of Mr Meadows and they both assisted Mr Lacy as occupants of the Pulpit till his death in 1781.The church in a large majority agreed to invite Mr Horsey to become their Pastor when a minority of 30 persons not coinciding in that measure separated and formed the second Baptist Church meeting in Whites Row, Portsea.

Mr Horsey was ordained May 15^th 1782. The united ministrations of Mr Horsey and his assistant Mr Miall were greatly blest for many years.

The Chapel having been rebuilt and afterwards enlarged during their ministry.

In 1801 Mr Horsey became disabled by a seizure of paralysis from discharging the pastoral duties, when Mr Miall by the unanimous suffrage of the church was invited to the Office of Co Pastor and was ordained as such: this solemnity took place under the sole conduct of the Revd Isaiah Birt of Plymouth Dock.

In 1802 Mr Horsey died when the Pastoral Office devolved on Mr Miall, whose labours for many years were greatly blest, and much people was added unto the Lord. Increasing years and their usual concomitants at length rendered assistance desirable and in the year 1826 the Church was mercifully directed to the Revd Caleb Evans Birt A.M. of Derby who in March 1827 entered on the office of Co Pastor with the Revd Daniel Miall.

Hitherto the Lord hath helped us.

The cause of the withdrawal of so large a proportion of persons was from a discussion having arisen between Revd C Room, and the Deacons of the Church. At a Church meeting held about the month of August in the year 1853, endeavours were employed to effect a reconciliation but without success when after a long and warm discussion, the Revd C Room resigned his Pastorate over the Church, much to the regret of the Majority of the Meeting who earnestly wished him to retain his ministerial office in that Chapel. In the month of Sept 1853 the Revd C Room preached his farewell sermon, having been the Pastor of that place of Worship for more than 16 years.

As the number of Members and Congregation who took part with their beloved Pastor, and who were decided in upholding him in his Ministry, had made known their intention of withdrawing with him, it was found requisite to engage the Beneficial Societies Hall, Kent St, Portsea, where on the following Sunday Mr Room preached to a large assembly.

It was finally arranged to rent the hall on a permanency, and accordingly the Revd C Room, with the seceding church members and congregation assembled there on the Lords Day for Worship for the space of three years and a half. The Wednesday evening lecture was preached at Whites Row Chapel, which was kindly and gratuitously lent for that purpose by the Revd Mr Mitchell and his members. During this period the Church was partially re-organised and many persons were added to the Church. An application had previously been made to the Church at Kent St Chapel for the dismission of those members who had withdrawn, in order that their being formed into a separate church and which was granted by them.

Towards the close of the above period of time the attention of Revd C Room, and the Church was drawn to the circumstance of the Chapel in which we are now settled being to the disapproval of the Revd S Cox having resigned his ministry in that place, and the church being dissolved, the Chapel & premises had finally fallen into the Court of Chancery. Upon hearing of which Our Pastor was requested to communicate with the Lord Chancellor, relative to the purchasing the premises.

Mr Room accordingly made an application to treat for the same, and after a short time the Chapel and its appurtenances, was finally ceded to the Church for the sum of £850. which sum was £50 for repairs to be raised by voluntary contributions, loans, and other services.

The Chapel was re-opened for Divine Worship on Friday May 16^th 1856 on which occasion the Revd William Landels of Regent Park Chapel London, preached. And on the following Sabbath May 18^th the Revd James Bennett D.D. occupied the pulpit. morning and Evening.

It should have been inserted in the preceding statement that near the end of the year 1854, subsequent to the receiving the letter of disenssion from the Church in Kent St, Portsea. A special and very interesting Service took place on one of the Wednesday evenings at Whites Row Chapel, in the recognition of the Revd C Room as the Pastor of the newly formed Church. The Revd T. Morris of Whitchurch, Hants presided. After preaching the ordinance of the Lords Supper, when Mr Morris in the name of the Church and on their behalf, gave the right hand of fellowship to the Revd C Room, thereby acknowledging the Church & Pastor as an ordained Christian Community. Brethren Smith, Stevens, Lancaster, & Slade handed round the elements to the Church , as Deacons, upon that occasion.

The following is a copy of a letter sent to the Revd Jos.h (Joseph?) Davis by the Revd C Room while occupying the Beneficial Societies Hall.

Portsea August 24^th 1854

"My Dear Brother

At a meeting held on Lords Day morning the 13^th instant it was unanimously resolved by the friends who have been worshipping for nearly a twelve months at the Societies Hall to discontinue their membership with the Church at Kent St Chapel, with a view to forming a new Church which resolution at their request I herewith transmit to you, begging you to notify the same to the Church at Kent St Chapel that their names may be withdrawn from theirs left of Church members. For the object stated, appended are the names of the friends who thus desire to have their names removed from the Church Book.

Praying that Grace Mercy and Peace may attend you and the Church under your pastoral care,

I beg to subscribe myself

Yours faithfully in Gospel Bonds,

Charles Room."

Mr Andrews; Mrs Andrews; Eliza Absalom; Mr Bubb; Miss Bubb;
Mr Brown (Amelia Row); Mr Brown (Frederick St) Mrs Blundell; Mr Boxall; Mr Bewsey; Mr Bowers,

Permanent Communicants:

Mrs and Mrs Hammond; Mr & Mrs Holmes; Mr Thomas Redwood

The following is a copy of Resolutions passed at the Church Meeting convened at Kent St Chapel by the Revd J Davis, relative to the preceding request.

Resolved.

1. That the above letters with the names appended be entered in the Church book.
2. That in accordance with their own request the names of the said members and communicants be removed from our Church book they ceasing by their own act and deed to be associated with this church.
3. That the following names be excepted from the above resolution for the reason given in each case:

Named as communicants, not found in our Church books:
Mr Hammond & Mrs Hammond; Mr Holmes; Mrs Holmes

4. That whilst we deeply regret such divisions and separations amongst the friends and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ we do both hope and pray that God will be pleased again (as he has often done before) to cause those things which seem to hinder to turn out for the furtherance of the Gospel.