NEWSPAPER CUTTINGS FROM 1907 TO 1916 CONCERNING A BAPTIST CHURCH IN GOODMAYES.
Dated 04/01/1907
Dear Sir
Please give space in your next issue to remind our friends that a short residence in above neighbourhood has convinced me that there is need for a movement towards establishing a Church between Seven Kings and Chadwell Heath. The rapid development of this district justifies activity, and I welcome correspondence in order to gauge the feeling of the Baptist community, now under great disadvantage. Friends of other denominations are busy doing pioneer work. Has not the time come for us to nail our colours to the mast?
Yours truly
Benjamin John Jones
Dunkeld Road
Goodmayes
Essex
BAPTIST STATISTICS
Dated 23/03/1911
Sir,
The surmise of A.T.S in a recent issue is true regarding the neighbourhood of Goodmayes, Essex, where I reside.
Four years ago, when I came here, I sent a letter to the denominational papers, although some hundreds of houses have since been erected we are still without a Baptist Church.
We have two Established Churches, a Presbyterian, Wesleyan and Congregational.
The result is that only the stalwarts who are willing to walk nearly two miles to services are held by the [Baptist] Denomination. The bulk of Baptist residents become other denominationalists. This statement, unfortunately, I can verify.
Here, again, is certainly a reason for decline in statistics, which each year is being augmented by the growing population in this popular centre.
Yours faithfully,
Benjamin John Jones
BAPTIST TIMES
Dated 17/03/1916
On Thursday the 9th [March 1916], Recognition services were held [at Goodmayes Baptist Church] to welcome the first pastor, Rev A Garment. The afternoon service was conducted by the Rev. Charles Spurgeon. Subsequently tea was served in the Lower Hall, after which informal speeches were delivered by various ministers. The evening meeting was presided over by the Rev. F.J. Exley. Mr B.J. Jones (Church secretary) made a statement as to the Church’s call to their minister. The Rev. F.H. Smith gave the charge of the Church, and the Rev D.H. the charge to the pastor.