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The Baptist Church in Walgrave
The Baptist Church has been established in Walgrave since 1712 and has been in the present Chapel from around 1786.
There are records showing that in 1704 a Philip Deacon had his house licensed as a Meeting House [Northants Quarter Sessions]. Philip's son Moses Deacon was minister c.1732-73 and the first Baptist Chapel at Walgrave (replaced by the present building in 1786) was probably erected during his ministry [W.A. Wicks, History of Walgrave Baptist Church, 1886].
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Since October 2011, the new Pastor in charge is Pam Thurston.
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We are a small congregation of about 15 members, but do have quite a few visitors and non-church members who join in our services from time to time.
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We hold weekly services on a Sunday at 10am. On the first Sunday in the month there is an all age service, specifically targeted at the youngsters in the village and we hold a communion service every second Sunday in the month.
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The attached schoolroom is used by a number of different organisations, both day and evening, and is open to any one wishing to make use of the facilities.
Contact Information:
Pastor: Mrs Pam Thurston 01536 484582
Secretary: Mrs Marion Whittle 01604 781900
Bookings: Mr Michael McGuire 01604 781226
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The Baptist Church is a listed building
(http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-360469-baptist-chapel-walgrave)
SP87SW (East side)
11/216 Baptist Chapel
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Grade II
Baptist Chapel. Date stone 1786. Regular coursed lias with slate roof.
Single-unit chapel with vestibule. South elevation: 2-storey, 3-window range at
first floor. Central window at ground floor is flanked by pair of entrances with
8-panelled double doors under wood lintels. 3-light casement windows have
moulded wood mullions with transom to ground-floor window all under wood
lintels. Hipped roof with central copper vent. One tall arch-headed window to
west elevation and two similar to south.
(Source: English Heritage)
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Pastor Pam – Walgrave Baptist Church
As a newcomer to the post of Pastor to Walgrave Baptist Church, it was suggested that I write a little about myself by way of introduction.
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So, where to start; I recall reading an interview of the author Fay Weldon. Fay said that, whenever she spoke to a Ladies group, she knew the ladies would be sitting wondering how old she was, whether she was married or not, whether she had children or not etc. Therefore, I shall take this as my cue.
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I was born just down the road in Kettering. As far as I have been able to ascertain, my mother’s maternal ancestors were born in Kettering also. I am married, and have been for some considerable time, my husband and I have two adult daughters. One daughter is married and has two children, one of whom is now taller than I am! The second daughter is due to be married later this year, in the Chapel. By now, you should have worked out that I am not young and leggy, and neither am I blonde – in fact, I have never been blonde.
I attended Sunday School, Youth Club and Girl Guides as a youngster, dropping out of church as a teenager but returning not long after our younger daughter was born, in the first instance to help at a local Brownie Pack. Later on I began attending church regularly again. It is some years since I began preaching, as a lay preacher, in various churches that form part of the Kettering & District Fellowship of Baptist Churches; this included Walgrave. In 2004 I studied for a Certificate of Theology for Preaching, a course run by Spurgeon’s College and validated by the University of Wales. I graduated early 2008. By this time I had regular preaching commitments, particularly at Ringstead and Corby and then, later on, more often at Walgrave. That’s the preaching pedigree then!
My understanding of Christian doctrine is based primarily on Acts chapter 2 and v42 – 47 are particularly dear to my heart. Living the Christian life is about caring for one another, sharing with one another, worshipping with one another. It is not a club for the good and the privileged; quite the reverse, it should be open to all comers who want to know more about Jesus and to get closer to him.
If you are still curious about me, about the Chapel, what we do inside it, or would like to meet with people who want to offer you friendship, then please do come along one Sunday morning.
Pamela Thurston
Telephone: 01536 484582
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