Waterbeach Baptist Church

Waterbeach Baptist Church

History of Waterbeach Baptist Church

1863 2nd May, newspaper report : Chapel Destroyed By Fire. A Fire broke out in this village about 1 o’clock in the afternoon of Saturday last, which occasioned great alarm and was the cause of damage little short of £1,000. The fire appears to have originated at the back premises of the Sun Inn occupied by Mrs Burling, and having done considerable dame here it spread to Mr Waddelow’s premises and destroyed the house and outbuildings. It next attacked Mr H Peak’s premises burning down his outbuildings and doing serious damage to his house. In close contiguity to Mr Peak’s premises is – or rather was – a good sized Baptist Chapel, which from the fact of its roof being of thatch and there being a great amount of woodwork about it, soon fell a prey to the devouring flames.

William Coles in his memoirs describes coming here in 1889 to hear Rev C H Spurgeon preach for the last time. He describes the chapel packed with people long before the arrival of the preacher. During Spurgeon’s pastorate as a youth at Waterbeach, his fame had spread far afield; he was invited to preach at Ebenezer Baptist Church at Cottenham.