MARSHALSWICK BAPTIST FREE CHURCH

The story of Marshalswick church began in 1960 from two different sources, one was of Methodist origin, the other stemmed from the Baptists; both were aware of each others activities.

In August 1960 the Methodist ministers of Marlborough Road Rev. H.C.Bee and of Hatfield Road Rev. P.A.Kerridge distributed a letter throughout the Marshalswick estate announcing the commencement of a Sunday School at Skywoods Junior School on Sunday 2nd October at 10.00 a.m. The letter went on to say, "Whilst it will be a Methodist Sunday School we shall welcome children whose parents belong to other churches, and will try to look after them until they are old enough to go to their parents church."

The Baptist origin lay in a house group which began meeting in 1960 for mid-week evening discussion and service. It began among members of Dagnall Street Baptist Church but its motivation was more broadly based.  In a letter sent out at Easter 1961 the group members wrote: "We would not conceal from you that we were brought together because we were all linked with the same church in St.Albans, but we want to make it clear that what we are trying to do is bigger than any one church."

In fact both Sunday School and House Group quietly drew members from all denominations.

It seemed that this was as far as the Free Church work could go at Marshalswick as there was apparently no site available for the development of a church. Then one afternoon in 1962 a telephone call suddenly transformed the whole situation.

The call was made to the minister of Dagnall Street Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Morris West, and the caller enquired if he knew of any Free Church work being done on Marshalswick.  The caller was told about the Sunday School and the House Group and that it seemed that this was as far as it could go because of the lack of a site.

At this point the caller identified himself as Mr. R.R.Giles Secretary of the Company led by Mr. T.F.Nash which was developing Marshalswick.  Mr Giles said there was a possible site for free church work in Sherwood Avenue opposite Kingshill Avenue and went on to ask if anybody would be interested in the site. Dr. West explained that the Methodists were really the Free Church group at present responsible for the estate but he felt sure that one or other of the Free Churches would be very interested.  Here the conversation ended.  Consultation immediately took place between the Free Church ministers particularly amongst the Methodist and Baptists.  After much discussion it was unanimously agreed that it should be left to the Baptists to try to obtain the site and develop it.

Early in 1963, on a day in the middle of one of the coldest spells for many a year, Mr. Nash and Mr. Giles came to St. Albans to meet the Baptist representative. Mr. Nash explained the location of the site and quoted its market value.  The Baptists made it clear that such a price was quite beyond them.  Mr Nash explained that he was not going to ask it of them.  He said he would be prepared to offer the site to them for five years at a peppercorn rent, and that if, at the end of those five years, a church was substantially erected on the site then he would hand over the site as a gift.  The offer was accepted with deep gratitude and great joy.  The contract was finally signed on 6th February 1964 making the deadline for having the building substantially erected 6th February 1969.

In view of this development the Methodist ministers Rev. N.J.Foster of Marlborough Road and Rev. A.P.Kiinber of Hatfield Road took the initiative of starting a Family service in conjunction with the Sunday School and the first service was held on Sunday 22nd September 1963.  This was supported by the Marshalswick House Group.  These Family services were led each week by representatives from the various Free Churches chiefly from the Methodists and Baptists.

The possibilty of a Free Church on Marshalswick was received with great enthusiasm by those worshipping at the Family Services.  A firm of builders Johnson Fuller Ltd. was approached and initial drawings prepared.  At first a building costing about £12,000 was envisaged, but when plans for the building were drawn it was obvious that such a building would be inadequate.  A building costing at least £25,000 was required.  Money began to be given and soon £5,000 was promised in gifts and covenants.  But the gap between what was needed and what could be afforded seemed unbridgeable.