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The 1970s - A New Era
The 1960s were not easy years for the church.
Membership was eroded by death and removals. There was difficulty
in getting supplies of preachers from London. This led to the
increasing assistance from local Baptist lay preachers, and
resulted in a desire for closer links with local Baptist churches.
In 1909, the Woking Year Book and Directory had listed Hope Chapel
as a 'Baptist' church, which led to a vigorous protest to the
Editor of the Woking News and Mail. Perhaps this was prophetic!
Mr. G. Wyatt, President of the Baptist
Preachers' Association, fostered the links. The ministry of men
such as Ernest Matthews, John Buttler, Peter Knapton and many
others led to lasting friendships. Help was given by local Baptist
ministers, especially David Pawson, Philip Jones and Harry
Shaddick.
At the same time, the church was involved with
discussions within the Churches of Christ about possible union
with other Free Churches, especially with
Congregational
and Presbyterian Churches. In 1968, the Rev. Philip Morgan and Mr.
A. Scott visited the church and set out the issues. But for the
Knaphill church God seemed to be pointing the Baptist way. A
deputation of H. Caudwell, E. Lloyd and A. Turner had
conversations with the Rev. Vivian Evans, Baptist Superintendent
of the Southern Area, and led to the church sending a resolution
to the Annual Council of the Churches of Christ that the members
wished to 'take positive steps towards joining the Baptist Union'.
In 1973, the church resolved to change its name to Knaphill
Baptist Church, and applied to the Home Counties Baptist
Association for membership.
The Annual Report of the church for 1974
describes that year as 'a very eventful year in the life of the
church . . . The Lord has led us into new paths in his service'.
Two major events took place during the year.
The Home Counties Baptist Association accepted
the church into membership. At the Spring Assembly held at
Godalming on May 11, Mr. A. Turner, Mr. E. F. Lloyd, and Mr. and
Mrs. D. Whittingstall were present and were welcomed as
representing the church. The process of change was brought to its
climax when the church joined the Baptist Union in 1977, and also
adopted a new constitution which conserved the essential insights
of the Churches of Christ, but brought it into line with Baptist
principles and polity.
 The
second event took place on July 13, 1974 when the Rev. Jim Sutton
was inducted as Honorary Pastor. Mr. Sutton and his wife had
worked as missionaries with the Baptist Missionary Society, and
was Secretary of the Feed the Minds Christian literature agencies.
The Rev. Charles Campbell spoke as Moderator of the HCBA, and old
friends of the Churches of Christ mingled with new Baptist friends
to wish the church well on its new path. This new venture also
reached its climax when Mr. Sutton as inducted as fulltime Pastor
on July 5, 1980. The appointment was made possible through a grant
from the
Baptist
Home Mission Fund towards the pastoral ministry.
Rev James Sutton, the Pastor from 1974 to
1984, and the author of most of this History TOP
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