History

The Baptist Chapel in which the church meets was the first non-conformist place of worship in East Grinstead

1810 (July 2) Laying of foundation stone. Money donated by Mr John Burt, wealthy local merchant and ship owner.

1811 (April 23) Chapel opened. Sunday school started one month later.

1812 Internal galleries constructed to accommodate a further 200 people.

1813 Manse adjoining the chapel built.

1815 Conveyance of management to the Countess of Huntingdon Connexion.

1829 Liturgical form of worship discontinued.

1830 Final conveyance of the property to ownership of the Countess of Huntingdon Connexion.

1843 (May 23) Last burial on Chapel ground.

1862 Schoolroom built onto right hand side of the chapel.

1879 Platform and pulpit constructed.

1880 Extensive repairs. Old style straight backed box style pews replaced by open benches of pitch pine. Re-opened New Year's Eve.

1907 Two-manual pipe organ installed by Mr R. Cartwright of London to replace harmonium. Cost £220. Half paid by Mr Andrew Carnegie.

1911 Vestibule added to front of church.

1939-45 Hall used as canteen for servicemen.

1944 Electric blower fitted to organ.

1944 (July 12) Chapel badly damaged by bomb blast.

1945 (Feb 3) Chapel re-opened after repairs and re-dedication by local builders T & G Smith.

1961 Triple Jubilee (150'th anniversary) celebrations.

1967 Appointment of Rev David Dixon as minister after church was renamed West Street Evangelical Church.

1969 Permission given by UDC to demolish the manse.

1974 Two new halls (one above the other) built to replace the manse. Opened on November 23.

1978 Congregation ceased to be a member of the Countess of Huntingdon Connexion. Chapel abandoned and left empty. Halls sold to Knighthood Insurance Company.

1981 Chapel bought by local Baptist congregation. Renamed Zion Baptist Church.

1988 First baptism in new baptistry after extensive repairs and alterations which had lasted seven years.

(Beryl Golding, August 1997)

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