Baptists first gathered in Cuckfield in the early part of the 18th century, encouraged and supported by a similar group in Ditchling, about 10 miles away.

It was not until 1772 that they were able to afford to build a small church in the corner of a field, leased from John Beadle, a farmer of Hoadsherf in Falmer. This was just off the main London to Brighton Road which eventually became a busy and popular route.The congregation met under the leadership of Pastor John Walder until his death in 1782. It then remained leaderless until it closed in 1820. During that time the church gradually moved to a Unitarian position.

For 21 years the building was used as a storage barn by a local farmer until, in 1841, the church was replanted by Mr C Carpenter from Danehill, assisted by others from Newick. The church continued with a succession of pastors and even established a daughter church in Bolney in 1851. In 1878 pastor George Field, who was the Chief Telegraph Officer in Brighton, where he lived, died running for a train at Haywards Heath.

The church continued in a low state until after the first World War, when from 1919 to 1939 Joseph and Jesse Turner, father and son, held the Pastorate in succession and built up the church. The Second World War disrupted the life of the church again and by 1957 was reduced to one just member, Miss Winifred Perry. At this point trustees appealed to a large church in Brighton, the Tabernacle, to help. They took up the challenge and, under the leadership of Mr Stanley Hogwood the work recommenced with a new vigour and enthusiasm. In 1962 the church called Mr Erroll Hulse to be its Pastor and a new period of growth began. The building was enlarged in 1967 and 1968. A daughter church was formed in 1971 in Crawley and this now meets in a newly built church in Maidenbower. In 1976 the field behind the chapel was purchased as a car park. Until then worshippers had been forced to park in adjacent streets, to the annoyance of the residents. Polestub Cottage next door to the chapel was purchased in 1978 and is now the Church Manse.

After twenty-two years of ministry at Cuckfield, Pastor Erroll Hulse moved to Liverpool and three years later David Ellis became Pastor. The church consolidated after a period of sustained growth and expansion. When, after nine years, pastor David Ellis moved to Stowmarket, David Sprouse was called to take on the role in 1997.

	The church is now experiencing a new period of growth and the existing facilities, some of which are over 225 years old, are plainly inadequate. The church is considering how to address this new growth so that their ministry to the local community is not restricted by the inadequate facilities.
Some of the church on a sunny Sunday morning.

 

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