Smethwick Baptist Church 

The congregation started meeting in 1831 in the home of Joseph Vernon and this church was built in 1877. The money came from the compulsory purchase of Canon St Church in Birmingham, it was demolished to build Corporation St and the money was given to eight Baptist churches around Birmingham including Smethwick. There was a second Baptist church nearby called Central Baptist Mission, also known as Cross St Temperance Mission – to encourage people to give up drinking alcohol.

In the late 1950’s Smethwick High Street was re-developed with one side being demolished to make way for the dual carriageway. The Central Baptist Mission church was compulsory purchased for £25k and demolished, the money was used to develop this building and the two congregations joined together meeting at this church in Regents St. It formerly became Smethwick Baptist Church in 1969.

Pat has been worshipping at this church since she was 13 and Margaret also joined at about the same age having gone to Holy Trinity Church as a child. Although they both grew up in Smethwick their experiences were different, Margaret lived near the church, but Pat grew up the other side of Smethwick which was away from the factories and had much cleaner air. Margaret has led both Sunday School and Guides, and they have both been deacons for many years. There are eight deacons who are the trustees of the church and are elected by the members.

During the Week there are a number of activities run by the church and other groups. These include: ESOL Classes, a lunch café, a Bible study group and a community coffee morning. On Saturday a Seventh Day Adventist congregation uses the church all day and on Sunday they have their Service in the morning and there is a Punjabi congregation in the afternoon.

https://smethwickbaptistchurch.org/

Patricia Payne

Margaret Moore

Listen into a conversation with Pat and Margaret as they discuss the difference their Christian faith makes in their every-day lives.

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FNC
1 Colmore Row
Birmingham
B3 2BJ