A brief History of WBC

Baptist groups (and other non-conformists) were present in the Wallingford area in the early 17th century but by the start of the 18th century had all returned to the established church or were travelling away to other places to worship.
 
Wallingford’s parish church, St Mary-le-More, had Rev Thomas Pentycross as rector from 1771-1808. It was the era of Methodist revivals and Pentycross almost left to join the Countess of Huntingdon’s Calvinistic Methodist Connexion. Some in his congregation were influenced by this and rethought their position.

One was a solicitor, Robert Lovegrove, who lived with Sarah (nee Toovey) his wife, in Calleva House on Wallingford’s High Street. He went further than Pentycross, became convinced of the Baptist position and was baptised as a believer by Rev Thomas Davis of Reading He also built a chapel at the bottom of his garden which we still use today. Robert had already gathered many supporters whom he promptly baptised and formed into a church. His opening sermon and the subsequent church records are lodged in the Angus Library of Regents Park College, Oxford.

Over the years 1794-1813 Lovegrove baptised over 150 people, encouraging them to covenant together in fellowship; a form of that covenant statement is still renewed each year by the membership. Memorials in the church remember some of the Lovegroves’ daughters who died young. Most of the family are buried in brick vaults below the chapel floor. Robert lived only to be 56 but his impact lived on, widened by the village evangelists he employed who planted churches in Roke and Sotwell.
 
The longest pastorate (1819-1848) has been that of Joseph Tyso, who had trained at Bristol Baptist College and came to Wallingford after pastorates at Helston, Cornwall, and Watchet, Somerset. In his time the church was re-fronted in Georgian style in 1821 and the small cemetery at its front was closed in favour of one at the bottom of the manse garden, 2 St Peters Street. Village outreach continued and Cholsey Free Church was formed. Support was given to Dorchester-on-Thames BC and a house at North Moreton was registered for worship as early as 1819.  Rev Tyso guided the church to have communion services open to all Christians rather than just to members. It caused a split with those leaving moving to form and build Jireh Strict BC on the New Road/Wood Street corner in 1834; it would survive quietly for a century with the only local connection now being South Moreton Strict BC. His 30 year ministry at the church was described as “faithful and affectionate”.

Thomas Brooks, formerly of the Bourton-on-the-Water church, had a substantial ministry between 1862 and 1877 until his health broke down. During this time ministerial oversight of the church in Cholsey was accepted and this continued for many years. He was followed by the erudite young Dr T. H. Martin who went from us to Glasgow in 1883, where he combined a pastorate with teaching a new generation of Baptist ministers.

By the end of Victoria’s reign Rev Henry R. Salt was pastor (1883-1904). He had the sadness of a son die in his teenage years, a reminder that many of the congregation of that century were touched by untimely terminal illnesses. The ministry of the Rev H Chalmers (1904-1910) was blessed with a revival of interest and spiritual life in the area – 38 people were baptised during this time. The Rev W Alexander Findlay came to Wallingford in the April following the Armistice and his ministry was just what was needed at the time being “a zealous and forceful preacher and an inspiring leader”. During this ministry Children’s meetings were held in the schoolroom and open-air services in the Market Place.
 
In the 100 years since Mr Findlay’s ministry ended the church has been served by 15 ministers – 11 of which stayed for 5 years or less. Amongst these were the Rev A Richard Burt (1943-1948) whose book “A Short History” written for the church’s 150th Anniversary has provided much of the material for this page.
 
In recent years the most significant ministry was that of the Rev Doug Harbour (1987-2009) who helped bring healing to a church which had split a few years previously over issues of leadership and particularly the role of women. The church which was formed as a result of that split (Ridgeway Community Church) is one which we now work closely with in a number of ways. It was also during Doug’s ministry that significant changes were made to the building including the removal of the gallery and a front extension.
 
Thanks to former church member Frank Law for his help with this information.
For a list of all our Ministers since 1794 please click here.