Whitton Baptist Church (St. Margarets Memorial)

Introduction.

The present Whitton Baptist Church building was opened on 6th April 1935, the Church becoming independent in 1936. The new building, financed by the sale of St. Margarets Baptist Church, replaced Whitton Gospel Hall opened in 1881 the same year as the St. Margarets church was opened both being daughter churches of Twickenham Baptist Church.

Early history of the area.

The "village" of Whitton can be traced back at least to the 13th century although it was only a hamlet in those days, on the edge of Hounslow heath. An early map of 1635 indicates a number of buildings in the Whitton area still surrounded by heath land. There is evidence of several large houses and estates being established in the 18th and early 19th centuries but it remained a very small hamlet until late into the 19th century even as late as 1872 the population was only 893. Whitton became a separate parish from Twickenham when the Parish Church of St. Philip and St. James was built on land the gift of Murray family in the 1861.

The Gospel Hall.

In 1881 Mrs Margaret Leeson, the wife of Dr. Leeson a prominent local doctor who became the first Mayor of the new Borough of Twickenham , was instrumental in building a Gospel Hall in Whitton close to Kneller Hall, formerly the home of the painter Sir Godfrey Kneller, but then and still, a Military School of Music. It was hoped that the Gospel Hall would provide a place of worship and religious instruction for the troops whilst at the School. In 1923 Twickenham Baptist Church took over the oversight of the Hall. Whitton was changing and in the 1930's it's market Gardens and fruit farms became housing estates and suburban Whitton emerged.

The Gospel Hall in Nelson Road.

This plaque in memory of Margaret Leeson can now be found at the back of the church. The inscription reads: "In affectionate memory of Margaret Ann Leeson one of the founders of this hall and the beloved wife of J.R.Leeson M.D. who departed this life January 13th 1880 aged 56. A faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and an untiring labourer in the gospel who by her daily life and conversation adored the doctrine of God our saviour in all things." (Larger pictures of the plaques here)

The Gospel Hall has this plaque on it. The inscription reads: "1881 - 1981 This tablet marks 100 years of Baptist witness which began in this hall on 15th October 1881 and continues today at Whitton Baptist Church. Jesus Christ. The same yesterday, today and forever."

The St. Margarets connection.

As the St. Margarets area in East Twickenham was developed for housing a Church known as Avenue Baptist Church was opened in 1881. In 1888 a number of members left to establish what is now Amyand Park Church affiliated to the FIEC. The Avenue Church prospered until the early 1920's when it passed through some difficult times although there were about 33 members its end was near as the site was reqired for the A316 now a major feeder of the M3 Motorway to central London. Eventually the Trustees decided to rebuild at Whitton hence our official title of Whitton Baptist Church, St Margarets Memorial.

Avenue Baptist Church