Featured on the back of the inside sleeve is a brief description and history of the church, which goes as follows:
"At present the Baptist Church is made up of 38 members, with a regular weekly attendance at the four chapels of 60-80 people. The largest and oldest of the Chapels is in Jamestown and was built in 1854, nine years after the Churchwas formed in 1845. The maximum capacity ofthis chapel is 150-200 people. Next built was the Sandy Bay Chapel in 1867, which seats about 80. Then came Knollcombes in 1896 which can seat about 100-120. This chapel has the largest grounds accompanying it with three graveyards – the old and new Baptist grave-yards as well as the Boer Cemetery. Last built was the Head o’ Wain Chapel, which was erect-ed during the shortages of WWI; they began in 1914 and through much sacrificial giving they completed it in 1918. This is the smallest of the Chapels.The Church began with a wonderful revival.
The Rev. James Bertram McGregor, “a Scot, and in business in Manchester, was converted by the outstanding preacher Robert Aitken, and assisting him Bertram became a minister, serving in Bristol, where, influenced by the Rev. Thomas Matthews, he was baptized by Believer’s Baptism. Later, Bertram impelled by missionary zeal, went to South Africa, and after a remarkable mission in Saldanha Bay, was persuaded to visit St Helena.” (Janisch p65). As a result of his successful ministry in South Africa, some believers in the Cape put up the money to send Bertram to the island. The first sermon to be preached was on the 15th of July 1845, at the house of Mr. James Morris, but the venue was too small because of the crowds that came to gather to hear God’s word. So Mrs Janisch, the widow of George William Janisch, offered the use of her large parlour for services. This was a very fruitful time of ministry and the record book of the Baptist Church details the following: “Her large parlour became our Chapel which at once became too strait for us. Here all classes flocked to hear the joyful sound of the glorious gospel of the blessed God. The sword of the Lord did its work—the word was a fire and a hammer. And the judgement day will manifest how many resisted the Holy Ghost and rejected the counsel of God against themselves—dreadful work. ”
So begins the long and rich history of the Baptist Church, a history which, through the restoration of our damaged buildings we would like to see prolonged. All the profits of this CD will go to restoring our buildings. We at the Baptist Church give you our thanks for supporting this project."
The Rev. James Bertram McGregor, “a Scot, and in business in Manchester, was converted by the outstanding preacher Robert Aitken, and assisting him Bertram became a minister, serving in Bristol, where, influenced by the Rev. Thomas Matthews, he was baptized by Believer’s Baptism. Later, Bertram impelled by missionary zeal, went to South Africa, and after a remarkable mission in Saldanha Bay, was persuaded to visit St Helena.” (Janisch p65). As a result of his successful ministry in South Africa, some believers in the Cape put up the money to send Bertram to the island. The first sermon to be preached was on the 15th of July 1845, at the house of Mr. James Morris, but the venue was too small because of the crowds that came to gather to hear God’s word. So Mrs Janisch, the widow of George William Janisch, offered the use of her large parlour for services. This was a very fruitful time of ministry and the record book of the Baptist Church details the following: “Her large parlour became our Chapel which at once became too strait for us. Here all classes flocked to hear the joyful sound of the glorious gospel of the blessed God. The sword of the Lord did its work—the word was a fire and a hammer. And the judgement day will manifest how many resisted the Holy Ghost and rejected the counsel of God against themselves—dreadful work. ”
So begins the long and rich history of the Baptist Church, a history which, through the restoration of our damaged buildings we would like to see prolonged. All the profits of this CD will go to restoring our buildings. We at the Baptist Church give you our thanks for supporting this project."
