Grace Baptist Church: History till 1970
The very beginnings of “Gurney Road Baptist Chapel” take us way back to 1869 when a christian man called Mr James Morter, who was a builder by trade; wanted to minister to his fellow builders who were at that time engaged in the transformation of the open fields and undeveloped land around that part of east London we know today as Stratford.
Mr Morter along with a number of other men and women, who were also seeking to promote the cause of Christ in this area; began meeting together in a house on Forest Lane. Today Forest Lane runs between Woodgrange Road and Leyton High Road and runs parallel alongside the Elizabeth Line between Forest Gate Rail Station and Maryland Rail Station.
When Mr Morter and these other men and women first met together for worship, it was in a house on Forest Lane. It is not known exactly when these services first commenced but we know that the first meeting when these brethren met together to consider the formation of a church was held in early November 1869. About a month later on 12th December 1869 a room was officially opened on Forest Lane for public worship. This was the very first beginnings of the work at Gurney Road, a work of God that has now continued for over a hundred and fifty years.
It was soon after the room was opened and services were held that the number of people attending began to grow, so much so that it was clear that a new location was needed. Seeing this Mr Morter, with his own money built the first church building which was known as “Forest Lane Baptist Chapel”
Shortly after this building was opened on Thursday 29th November 1870 the church was constituted, and it is documented in an early copy of the “Earthern Vessel” magazine (2nd Jan 1871) that Pastor W. Palmer gave an address at this meeting on “The constitution of a Gospel church” after which a Mr Box of Woolwich gave the right hand of fellowship to the first six members
James Morter, Ann Morter, Maria Morter, Joseph Newley, Charles Chipchase and Margaret Newley
After which the church was declared “organised”
Soon after this meeting, Mr James Morter was elected to the office of deacon and for about the first 9 months he was the only church officer. Then on 23rd August 1871 nearly a year after it was established, the church received its first minister, Pastor J E Gray.
In the 16 years after its constitution this work at Forest Lane Baptist Chapel was such that the 180 seats at the chapel became insufficient, one of the many signs of God’s great blessings on this His work.
In this period, the church had several Pastors. Pastor JE Gray, its first; resigned on 29th March 1874. During the remainder of 1874 and throughout 1875 a Mr George Elvin ministered regularly at the church but did not become its Pastor. From November 1875 onwards a Pastor John Hunt Lynn began to minister at the church and then in 1876 he accepted the call to become the Churches Pastor. He was the Pastor of this work from 1876 – 1905.
There have been other Pastors throughout its history, notable men such a Ebenezer Marsh (1894 – 1904), Robert G Martin (1965 – 1973)
History of Pastor Achille Blaize (1975 – 2010) and Pastor Elisha John Masih (2010 – 2023) to follow
Three generations of Pastors. Far left Pastor Achille Blaize. Middle Pastor Wilfred Khurt, Pastor Elisha John Masi