UCL BLOOMSBURY PROJECT

History

It was founded in 1713 as a Baptist place of worship

It was in Grafton Street, Soho, until the late eighteenth century, when its congregation decided they wanted a “more quiet and extensive place of worship” (John Martin, ‘The Gospel of Our Salvation, Preached at the Opening of the New Meeting in Store-street, Bedford-square’, 1796)

In 1794 one of their number, William Ashlin, of Sloane Street, Chelsea, said at a meeting that “If you are still of opinion, that a larger and better place of worship is wanting, I will undertake to build one of that description at my own expence. The place I am in treaty about for that purpose, is on the Duke of Bedford’s estate, at the East end of Store-Street, nearly opposite the back front of the British Museum. When the building is finished, I will say, THERE IT IS. Should it meet with your approbation, you may give me just what you please” (John Martin, ‘The Gospel of Our Salvation, Preached at the Opening of the New Meeting in Store-street, Bedford-square’, 1796)

There was no official subscription or collection, but members could give money if they liked; in the end, the church and the subscriptions raised £1700 of the cost of the building and its “appurtenances”, which was just less than £3475 (John Martin, ‘The Gospel of Our Salvation, Preached at the Opening of the New Meeting in Store-street, Bedford-square’, 1796)

“Let it however be remembered, that this has been done by Protestant Dissenters, cheerfully paying every parochial tax, at a time when we hear loud, and general complaints of trade: and done, not by men of great landed property; but by TRADESMEN, and by others in inferior stations” (John Martin, ‘The Gospel of Our Salvation, Preached at the Opening of the New Meeting in Store-street, Bedford-square’, 1796)

The first brick was laid by Mrs Ashlin on 29 April 1794; the building opened for public worship on 28 June 1795 (John Martin, ‘The Gospel of Our Salvation, Preached at the Opening of the New Meeting in Store-street, Bedford-square’, 1796)

Its minister from 1843 was S. Davies (Baptist Manual, 1845)

In 1893 the Duke of Bedford visited the Chapel, which was on the Bedford estate; its lease was due to expire at Michaelmas 1893 (Bedford Estate Middlesex Estates’ Report Book 2, 1883–1895)

At the time, the community attending the Chapel was small and declining; the Duke’s agent suggested in his report that it be let to the present occupants at a rent of £50 pa (Bedford Estate Middlesex Estates’ Report Book 2, 1883–1895)

It no longer exists