Earls Hall Baptist Church was founded as a church plant in 1939 following the purchase of Priors School and it was officially opened on November 18th 1939. Subsequent new building projects, especially in the mid-1960’s resulted in significant changes to the church plot and facilities that led to what we have today. In recent years we have built a new Baptistry and had the church kitchen completely refurbished.
The first full time minister Rev. Walter Butcher was appointed in 1949 and followed by seven subsequent ministers: Rev L. Addicott (1956), Rev Bryan Gilbert (1964), Rev. Bill Whitfield (1970), Rev. Alan Davies (1985), Rev. Richard Lewis (1999), Rev. Steve Smith (2008) and Rev. Tom Vernon (2015).
The minsters have been assisted by Rev. Ian Coffey (1979), Rev. Ivor Reed (1982), Rev. Clive Pegler (1985), Rev. Paul Stow (2003) and Rev. Simon Thompsett (2011).
Throughout its history, the church has given assent to the Baptist Union Declaration of Principle and the Evangelical Alliance Basis of Faith.
As a church we have good links with our nearby primary schools, and good links with the surrounding community particularly through The Ark. In this we run a toddler group, dance class, warm welcome, and distribute food from Southend Foodbank.
The Leadership are also the Trustees of the charity, and have regular monthly meetings. The church meet for formal meetings every other month. Caretaking duties are shared between church members.