PREVIOUS PASTORS

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.

Ephesians 4 v 11

 

Mr. C. Collins 1827 – ?

Mr. Cornelius Slim (May 1843 – June 1846. Served 3 yrs 1 month)

Mr. William Coleman (January 1847 – 04 October 1847. Served 9 months before dying)

Mr. Joseph H. Wallis (28 March 1849 – 13 July 1865. Served 16 years and 4 months till retiring aged 83)

Mr. Frith (August 1865 – April 1870. Served 4 years and 8 months before split)

Mr. Le Riche (24 June 1874 – 30 May 1877. Served 2 years and 12 months)

Mr. S.T. Belcher (January 1884 – March 1884. Served 3 months then another 12 months 1909 – 1910)

Mr. S. T. Belcher
Mr. S. T. Belcher

Mr. E.W. Flegg (April 1894 – August 1904. Served 10 years and 4 months inbetween Mr. S. T. Belcher’s two terms)

Mr. E. W. Flegg
Mr. E. W. Flegg

Mr. F.W Reader (January 1914 – 15 January 1918. Served 4 years)

Mr. G.W. Thomas (December 1920 – December 1921. Served 12 months)

Mr. G. W. Thomas
Mr. G. W. Thomas

Mr. D.E. Westcott (October 1924 – 01 November 1935. Served 9 years)

Mr. F. Harris (1938 – 1945. Served 7 years)

Mr. E.J. Wood (1952 – August 1962. Served 10 years)

Mr. E. J. Wood
Mr. E. J. Wood

Mr. M.R. Spurgeon (1958 – 1961. Served 3 years)

One needs to be very careful in elevating people and much harm to local churches is done by Christian celebrity hunters who will travel miles to hear a famous pastor rather than serve Christ where they live. Nevertheless some people have shone more brightly for Christ than others to the praise of His Name. Amongst those of our Tradition we have to note the name of that worthy Mr. Charles Haddon Spurgeon who came to preach at the Old Baptist Chapel twice (05/12/1854 & 29/06/1864). There is nothing unique about Bexleyheath in that regard for Mr. Spurgeon graced many a Baptist pulpit but how many Baptist Chapels have the distinction of having had a relative of CH Spurgeon as their Pastor? Such was the peculiar honor of our Church for in 1958 Pastor M.R. Spurgeon was called as Co Pastor due to the poor health of Pastor E.J. Wood. This was to last till 1961 when Pastor M.R. Spurgeon was called away to Pastor elsewhere before going to Australia for a limited time.

Mr. Michael Toogood (13 October 1962 – 31st December 1965. Served 3 years and 2 months as Pastor and two years before that as District Evangelist)

Mr. Michael Toogood
Mr. Michael Toogood

Mr. J.E. Beeken (25 June 1967 – 18 December 1970. Served 3 years and 6 months)

Mr.Robert Sheehan (02 June 1974 – 12 December 1981. Served 7 years and 6 months)

Mr. Robert Sheehan
Mr. Robert Sheehan

Mr. Colin Vincent (August 1983 – 2003. Served 20 years)

Mr. Colin Vincent
Mr. Colin Vincent

Mr. John C. McIllmurray (February 2006 – 2011)

Mr. John C. McIllmurray
Mr. John C. McIllmurray

Mr. Chola Mukanga (October 2016 – )