The Moat House 

8 Crow Lane 

Rochester 

Kent 

ME1 1RF 

A brief history of RBC

 

In March 1887 Mr G.A. Millar, a student pastor from Spurgeon College, London, began to conduct evening services in The Institute, High Street, Strood. The Reverend C.H. Spurgeon paid all expenses for the first three months.

A Sunday School was started in October 1887. At the same time a committee of five were elected to oversee all aspects of the new work. Soon the congregation could not be accommodated in The Institute, so they agreed to move to premises in Rochester. Before moving they decided to form a church, which came into existence on the 8th March 1888. Twenty people signed the Covenant. The services at Rochester were held in rented premises to the rear of Eastgate House.

In November 1888 a meeting was organised for the purpose of drawing up plans to secure a site upon which to build a chapel. Despite opposition from several quarters, a site costing £1,000 was eventually found in Crow Lane, Rochester. It was occupied by two houses, the larger of which was designated the Moat House. The two lower rooms of the Moat House were converted into one, and used as a temporary place of worship.

Mr. Millar was ordained to the Christian ministry on 31st May 1889, and inducted as Pastor of the church. The foundation stones of the school chapel (Institute) were laid on the 25th June 1890, and the building was first occupied on 17th September 1890.

The congregation continued to grow, so the church planned for the erection of a chapel, which would seat 700, at the cost of £3,600. This was a large sum for a small church, and it is estimated that the Pastor travelled over 10,000 miles encouraging others to contribute to the cost of the building. The foundation stones were laid on the 11th March 1907, and the building was opened on the 23rd October 1907. By this time the building fund had totalled £2293-10s-4d.

In spite of the faithfulness of many members a gradual decline in the members attending, and the state of the building began at the time of the first World War, and continued to the late 1970s when various factors brought matters to a head. At this stage some doubted whether the church had a future. However, despite the church's previous history, the financial implications and the state of the building, the members believed it right to call another fulltime Pastor – Wesley Aiken - in 1980. Wesley still fulfils this role today.

In the mid-eighties the church was again compelled by the state of the buildings to consider its future. It concluded first, that it was right to continue as a church; secondly, that it should remain in the centre of Rochester; and thirdly, that the main building should be refurbished, including the establishment of a Christian bookshop and Coffee Bar. This project involved a heavy ongoing financial commitment but God generously enabled the church to meet the cost.

All of this reflected many encouragements, which resulted in the growing conviction that God has a continuing purpose for the Church.

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