East Sussex Town Guide

Tourist Guide for Aldwick West Sussex

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History of Aldwick,  West Sussex

Around 1930 the Free Church Federal Council of Bognor Regis wanted to start a Free Church work in Aldwick, Felpham and North Bersted. In order to avoid duplication the Free Church Federal Council agreed that each of these three areas should be developed by one of the Denominations, Felpham - Methodist, North Bersted - Congregational and Aldwick - Baptist.

In the beginning God revealed to three men His sovereign plan for His Kingdom here in Aldwick. Mr Osborne Clayton Thomas, Rev. George Elder Johnston (see picture on left), and a little later, Mr Cyril Douglas Harry (John) Robbins. The Rev. Johnston was a Baptist Minister who had been compelled to retire early due to temporary ill heath, and who was at the time helping to run a boarding house at  Millbrook, Aldwick Road with his wife Bertha and three of their seven children. The house of Rev. Johnston soon became a kind of committee room which ideas were discussed and plans made for a new Baptist work at Aldwick.

In 1936 an appeal was launched. Mr Rowland Rank, a member of the famous milling family, who lived in Aldwick, gave considerable financial backing which enabled the site to be obtained and the original building to be erected.

The land at Aldwick on which the present church is situated was owned by Mr Smart, a local farmer, who wanted to sell some plots of land adjacent to Gossamer Lane.

The land cost £641 which was a substantial in those days. In 1937 Messrs Fryer & Sons, builders at Rose




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