The founder, under God, the late Rev. H. A. Squire, has related how
the work began:
I had been conducting services in Leeds. Whilst there, I formed a
slight acquaintance with a young man who, soon af ter my return home,
removed to Stoke Newington, London. Through this brother I became
acquainted with Messrs. R. G. Allen, E. T. Lockyer, A. Clark, W. Waterman,
and others, who were residing in or near Stoke Newington. Shortly
after, two brethren were sent to ask if I were willing to hold cottage
meetings in Stoke Newington. After prayer, I replied in the affirmative,
and accordingly, on Sunday morning, August 1st, 1880, I preached in a
parlour at 29 Victoria Grove West, to a congregation of three persons.
Thus was commenced this work.
In the afternoon and evening we tried to get audiences, but were
unsuccessful. Nothing daunted, however, I promised to be there again
on the following Wednesday. That evening brought a congregation of
seven persons, to whom I preached. On Sunday, August 8th, I addressed
eight persons in the morning and nine in the evening, and I was urged to
hold a meeting on the following day, which I consented to do. On the
Monday evening a fair number had assembIed, but before preaching,
several of the audience desired to ask me questions. The first was:
"What kind of minister are you?" I replied that I was an Old Baptist
minister, and then gave the following explanation: "As an Old Baptist I
thoroughly believe the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and look upon
it as the Word of God. As an Old Baptist I believe in contending earnestly
for the faith once delivered to the saints, and in practising the doctrines
that Christ and His ApostIes taught and practised as recorded in the
New Testament, which were never to be changed from the time they
were given to the end of the world." I then continued to say that,
although believers had more or less departed from the faith and practice
of Christ and the Apostles,I nevertheless fully believed that God was with
all honest Christians as far as they obeyed His Word, whether little or
much.
Through these remarks we were called Unsectarians, by which name
we were known for a considerable time afterwards.
After answering their questions, I determined to discourse more fully
upon the doctrines of Christ. I spoke firstly, on that faith of which
Christ is the Author and Finisher; secondly, on that repentance unto life,
or true conversion, taught in the Scriptures; thirdly, on baptism by
immersion as commanded by Christ; fourthly, on the gift of the Holy
Spirit and the laying on of hands; and fifthly, on the Lord's Supper.
The power of God rested on both speaker and hearers. I was speaking
for two hours and threequarters, yet neither I nor any of those present
noticed the time until the end. At the close, ten persons came forward
with requests for baptism and the laying on of hands. Mr. James Wicks
being among them. During the following week, souls were converted
and fourteen persons were baptized. From this time the parlour was
always crowded with attentive listeners, and the work progressed rapidly.
At a meeting on August 18th, the work was thoroughly organized, rules
read and accepted, and the Rev. H. A. Squire unanimously appointed
President.
The work thus described by the founder that began as a "grain of
mustard seed" grew and multiplied. During the first seven or eight
months between seventy and eighty persons professed conversion to
Christ. Eden Hall, High Street, was used for a while as a meeting place,
and when that became too small, the services were transferred to Clonbrock
Hall, Allen Road. Subsequently, a chapel was erected in Wordsworth
Road where the work has continued unto this day.