1751 - 1934
The History of Stratton Green Baptist Church
1751 - 1934
The first church building on this site was built in 1751 by a group of Christians who had been regularly meeting in a house in Stratton Green since 1740. They encountered much opposition from other ‘Christians’ in the area for being non conformists. John Cennick gathered a mob and persecuted the Stratton Green Christians. It was considered to be God’s judgement when he was thrown from his horse and died.
Caleb Bailey of Berwick Bassett left two small fields in Stratton in his will to William Lawrence, a Baptist and Glover of Swindon. This land was next to a small orchard belonging to Mrs Read. This land was acquired and a trust was drawn up for the building and licensing of a Baptist meeting place; and so it was built in 1751.
In the late 1700’s Mr Thomas Smith became pastor helped by John Mayell who was a preacher here. John Mayell was born in 1764 and died in 1807. He was buried in Stratton Green graveyard and his stone reads.
“He was a faithful preacher of the Gospel of Christ
to many perishing sinners in his neighbourhood.
His labours were blessed in the conversion of souls to God
Reader, art thou converted. Consider there is no heaven without it."
In 1786 during the pastorate of Thomas Smith another endowment was left to the church by Abraham Atkins, a Methodist from Southwark, to be divided among the congregations of Protestant Dissenters who scrutinised against infant baptism. In 1791 Mr Atkins left a further £2,000 of Indian stock in his will. In 1845 the stock held by the Trustees amounted to £4,000.
In the beginning of the 19th century, the Stratton Baptists enlarged their meeting house and a plaque inscribed “T.S.1801” (after Thomas Smith) was placed over the door. This inscription can still be seen at the base of the present vestry building where it was placed after the demolition of the earlier building.
