We are a self-governing church in which currently about 120 people are actively involved, about 80-90 of which have committed themselves to the fellowship as Members.  The church is self-supporting and gives to Christian work in this country and world-wide.

We are members of the South Eastern Baptist Association, and of the Baptist Union which, in Great Britain, has 156,000 members in over 2000 churches.  There are more than 38 million Baptists throughout the world.

Our Town...
“Whitstable ~ a pretty fishing town on the north Kent coast, sitting at the mouth of the Thames estuary ~ the pearl in the crown of England’s oyster industry and the place to which the Romans flocked for their seafood 2000 years ago.”  Thus reads a recent article in The Mail on Sunday which suggests that Whitstable is enjoying an upsurge in popularity ~ “Whitstable is the perfect place for families.”

But Whitstable is not only about the seaside and seafood.  It’s a town of narrow streets inter-linked by an intricate network of even narrower alleyways first used by smugglers!  (visit “Squeeze Gut Alley”, just along from the church, and see if you can get through!)  A town steeped in history and innovation.  The list of world “firsts” makes impressive reading and includes the first public passenger railway ~ when it was opened on 3^rd May, 1830, the Invicta became the first steam locomotive in the world to haul regular passenger trains!

Seven miles north of the City of Canterbury, Whitstable ~ together with its suburbs of Seasalter, Swalecliffe, Tankerton and Chestfield ~ is home to some 29,000 people, many of whom commute to London or the Medway towns.  The town boasts a working harbour and light industry and is also home to a good many students who attend the University of Kent, at Canterbury, or its nearby colleges.

Our Building...
In Middle Wall, a narrow street running parallel to the High Street, stands Whitstable Baptist Church ~ where it has stood for more than 150 years (it was a Methodist Church before we came along!) surrounded by history, proclaiming the gospel and presenting a Christian witness to the town.

The last two or three years have seen a major refurbishment of the sanctuary, halls and other rooms which have been reorganised to provide additional teaching / meeting space.  We now have a lighter, brighter and altogether more attractive place in which to worship God.  We also own a large and spacious manse less than a mile from the church.

Our Family...
The fellowship, as one might expect, comprises a mixture of people of all ages and from all walks of life.  Two services are held each Sunday with an average congregation of 100 ~ 150 people in the morning, including Sunday Schools and Young People.  Although evening attendance is generally less, there is still the same warm fellowship ~ in a less formal setting.  Holy Communion is celebrated twice each month and one morning service each month is geared to the members of the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades on parade, and their families.  Through these Brigades, and the Sunday School, the church has established close links with parents.  These links are further enhanced by a variety of “special events”.

Our Relationships...
We have a good relationship with the other churches in the town and are members of the Churches Together in Whitstable initiative.  We have completed three fruitful Alpha Courses recently, which have brought in a number of people previously “on the fringe” and have resulted in Baptisms.

Apart from the Girls’ and Boys’ Brigades mentioned earlier, our regular weekly programme includes a number of events intended to appeal to a wide variety of tastes and age groups.  These include prayer meetings and Bible studies, either at the church or in the more informal settings of individuals’ homes, and a number of “contact” organisations for the young and not so young!  There is a Youth Club and the church is host to a Playgroup and Mother & Toddler Group which also help to provide a link to the wider community.

There is an active Prayer Chain and our minister is supported in his pastoral duties by the nine deacons, each of whom has responsibility for a section of the fellowship and one of the organisations.  People are welcomed into closer, formal membership, following baptism or on their profession of faith. Currently, our membership stands at about 85 and is growing.