Findon Valley Free Church

Findon Valley Free Church

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Meetings were first held in a cottage in York Terrace, Nepcote, led by Mr T G Graham, who built the chapel at Nepcote between 1875 – 1880.

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After Mr Graham’s death in 1905, an approach was made to Worthing Baptist Church and Nepcote Chapel came under the care of the Home Missions Committee at Christchurch Road, Worthing. A Sunday School and Youth work was established in 1922, and a Women’s Fellowship in 1931. The chapel had a building fund of £40.

By 1937 numbers had slowly declined, some cottages were becoming derelict and people were moving from the neighbourhood. An approach was made to the Home Missions Committee suggesting a site be found in Findon Valley to cater for the growing community there.

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An inaugural meeting was held in a marquee in Vale Drive, Findon Valley on 12th July 1939. The first few services were held in a smaller tent, but were then transferred to a flat over a shop in King’s Parade. The first service held in the flat coincided with the sirens announcing the outbreak of the Second World War.

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Plans to build a brick chapel on a site in Hillview Road were unable to go ahead because of the restrictions imposed by the war, but a sectional timber building was erected, decorated and furnished. This building was opened in November 1939.

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The work began to grow and it became apparent that a minister should be called and that a larger building would be needed.

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On 25th July 1949, the church invited The Rev Henry Bonser to be the first minister at Findon Valley Free Church. His induction service was on 11th October 1949.

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The site, on which our church stands today, was purchased in 1955, designed by R W Brough and opened in 1958. The hall was opened in 1964 and twenty years later, the extension was built.