Church History

Beginnings

The history of Baptist congregations in County Durham can be traced back to the mid-seventeenth century (Neil, 2006), but almost three centuries passed before a Baptist Church was established in Durham City.

In 1949 a few convinced Baptists living in Durham began to meet together and to pray, sharing in the belief that a Baptist Church should be founded in the city. Initially services were held in the Shakespeare Hall in North Road – evening worship and afternoon Sunday School. In 1951 the church was officially constituted and later that year Joseph Skemp became the Presiding Elder. The following year the Sunday worship and other meetings moved into the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade hut (off Churchill Avenue) and the church continued to grow numerically and spiritually. In 1953 the church was in a position to have paid ministry and in September Sister Freda Buckley became Deaconess. For two and a half years, Sister Freda and the Church members worked together, until she married Derek Moon, a Methodist minister, and they went to serve in Jamaica.

Building the Church

In October 1957 Roy Williams was inducted as the first Minister of the church and plans were set in motion to build a church and to raise the necessary funds. A great deal of prayer and goodwill continued and the local authority offered the church land in Edge Court. Plans for the building, including a flat for the newly-married minister, were drawn up and passed. Thanks to enthusiastic help from practical friends the church was duly constructed and was opened in November 1959. The building debt was quickly cleared. Church membership grew and by the mid-1970s reached almost 100.

The Church in 2019

Over 60 years since its foundation, DCBC continued to serve the local community in Gilesgate and Durham City. From our weekly children’s activities to our one-off family events – such as the Comic Relief Ceilidh, Bake Off, and Body Shop night – we provided opportunities for fellowship and growth in faith. The most exciting development was the start of Café Church services on the first Sunday each month, which still provides a more information opportunity for the community to worship together in an informal and friendly setting. In addition, we have redecorated several of the rooms to make a more welcoming space for all members of our community.

Ministers

1951-1953 Professor Joseph Skemp (Presiding Elder)
1953-1956 Sister Freda Buckley (Deaconess)
1957-1965 Roy Williams
1965-1969 Allan Hellawell
1969-1975 Alan Betteridge
1976-1978 Ernest Lucas
1980-1984 Bill Allen
1985-1987 Paddy Mallon
1988-1995 Gordon Martin
1995-2002 John Claydon
2003-2022- Ronnie Wynd
2022-present – Louise Dickinson

References

Durham City Baptist Church: From prayer to praise: insights into the story of Durham City Baptist Church, 1950-2000. Durham, 2000
Neil, David F.: The baptists of North East England, 1650-2000. Houghton-le-Spring, 2006