Grace
Community Church grew from the
merger of two congregations the
senior of which was Princes End
Baptist Church. The origin of
the latter is often given as 1846
but the church actually predates
this year in the way that living
congregations predate their buildings.
Zion Chapel was indeed opened
in 1846 but the original church
was formed in the 1820s through
the preaching of Samuel Yardley.
It seems that he walked from Cradley
Heath to Princes End every Sunday
to preach the gospel, and it was
from this ministry that a church
grew.
The first recorded baptism was
in 1829. It is not now clear how
this early start relates to the
association with Coppice Chapel,
Coseley, but there is evidence
that the involvement of members
of that congregation resulted
in the formation of Summerhill
Church in 1833 using a room hired
from a family named Underhill.
(Summerhill is immediately adjacent
to the Princes End area of Tipton.)
We are told that one David Taylor
was 'father of the church' and
that under his leadership land
was purchased for a building from
the Moat Colliery Company - 'the
site of an old stable' - and that
'they commenced to build'. (It
is also noted that they 'resorted
to the canal for baptisms'. In
view of their depth a somewhat
risky enterprise; however, no
losses were reported!)
A later, well-respected minister,
Rev J Cecil |
 |
Whittaker, testified to the
character of these first believers:
'the sterling worth, their strength
of character, and the fervent
piety of not a few in the little
band, who were trained up into
a life of faith and practical
godliness.' The opening of Zion
Chapel seems to have involved
a merger of the original Summerhill
congregation with 'some influential
members of the Darkhouse' -
the Baptist church in neighbouring
Coseley.
The new church called a pastor
in 1846 - a brave step since
the membership amounted to just
42 persons. Thus, John Stent
arrived in Tipton but he was
to serve the church for only
two years. He left in July 1848
for reasons that were not fully
explained.
The church's second pastor was
James Voller. He was appointed
on the same stipend as his predecessor
- £100 per annum. Although
virtually unknown in this country
he was later acquire a reputation
as a pioneer Baptist minister
in Australia. His five-year
ministry resulted in a growing
congregation which subsequently
called Richard Nightingale (1853-1869)
and J C Whitaker (1870-1898).
During these years two unusual
events stand out in the life
of the growing church: James
Voller’s shipwreck en
route to Australia and the unexpected
relocation of Zion Chapel in
1872. These are the subjects
of the next two articles in
this series. |
