History
Timeline of Orchard Baptist Church, Colchester.
1899 Official foundation of Blackheath. Services were held in a barn belonging to a member, Mabel Sheard.
1905 The land the barn was on changed ownership and the new owner, Ellis Ramsay Reid, was willing to sell. The church brought it for £75 on Tuesday 27th June. The chapel was built for £280. This was a time of considerable financial hardship. The Sunday school children raised money by buying a brick. A full list is here. These bricks can be seen today. Some are numbered, others have the child's initials on them. The total raised was £22. 8% of the total cost. Foundation stones were laid by Alderman Wilson Marriage J.P., Judge Willis K.C. and Rev. E. Spurrier on Tuesday 5th December. Judge William Willis K.C. was president of the Baptist Union in 1905
1930s A time of activity and expansion. New members were added almost monthly. Money was accumulated in a building fund for a detached classroom at the back of the church. There were a number of fetes and church outings.
Church outing to Dovercourt.
1948 A hall was built at the back of the church.
1950 Orchard won a Sunday School award.
1965 The church hall was built.
1987 First full time minister
1990? Ladies fellowship started.
1992 The church hall was demolished and the current main hall, kitchen, toilets, and back classroom were built. These were officially opened on Tuesday 26th September.
1996 Blackheath became 'Orchard Baptist Church'
1998-2001 Thursday club. This was for 4-9 year olds.
The number of children varied from 13-20. It was led by Martin and Renee Battle.
2014 Table tennis group started.
2007-2018 Various "Fun Days" were held at the church. See the following videos.
2017 This is what the church looked like.
2019 The church car park was tarmaced. See Photos
July 2022 Orchard Baptist Church became a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). The name was changed to 'Orchard Baptist Church Colchester'.
2025 The first meeting to discuss major changes to the church was held on Tuesday 10th June.
Superintendents and leaders
1901 - 1905 Mr C H Comer
1905 - 1907 Mr Potter
1907 - 1928 Mr. Haywood
1940 - 1946 George Patfield from Eld Lane.
1946 - 1948 Mr Tompkins
1948 - 1951 Gerald Miller and Don Stephens
1951 - 1955 Alfred Worth
1955 - 1957 Mr Fordyce
1957 - 1962 Sister Muriel
1962 - 1981 Eric Barnett
Ministers
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| 1987 - 1997 | Ron Overton | 1997-2002 | George Balfour | ||
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| 2005 - 2010 | Paul Green | 2011-2018 | Graeme Ross | ||
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| 2021 - 2025 | Kate Young |
Thank you to Linda Paterson for some of the information on this page.