200 years of the gospel at Grove Chapel

2019 marks the bicentenary of Grove Chapel, Camberwell, south London, an historic, independent and non-conformist congregation in which the gospel has been faithfully preached throughout its history.

It all began with the conversion of a young man from Hertfordshire called Joseph Irons (1785-1852), who very soon experienced a desire to preach Christ and, through a remarkable series of providential events, found himself preaching at Camden Chapel in Camberwell, a mile or so from the present site of Grove Chapel. After being rejected by those in charge of the church for preaching God’s sovereign grace and faith in Christ alone, a breakaway group called Irons as pastor of a new church, in a new building.

The foundation stone was laid on 15 March 1819, and just four months later, on 20 July, the newly completed chapel was open for its dedication service.

God speaks

Several more notable preachers led the church over the years, one having an extraordinary testimony. Casting a tract into the fire, Henry Atherton dismissed its challenge to face the reality of death and eternity. However, shortly afterwards, a young man sauntered towards him, and, without any warning signs, collapsed lifeless right next to Atherton. At that very moment a voice spoke behind Atherton: ‘If that had been you, where would you have spent eternity?’ Atherton replied ‘Hell’, then looked round, but he saw no one there. He quickly recognised that God was calling him, not only to be a Christian, but also to preach the gospel he had once hated.

The last five men who have pastored the church are still alive and well today: Iain Murray (1961-69), Hywel Jones (1970-80), David Norman Jones (1981-93), Mark Johnston (1994-2010) and the present writer (from 2014). The emphasis continues to be the centrality of the preaching of the gospel, the authority and sufficiency of the word of God, the necessity of conversion – the new heart and the changed life.

This Autumn

Grove Chapel will host an ‘Open Church’ event during the weekend of 21-22 September, when members of the general public will be encouraged to visit the chapel, view photographs and learn something about its history.

The official Bicentenary Commemoration will be the weekend of 2-3 November, when the last three pastors will each be preaching on the Three Persons of the Godhead.