Origins of the Church

The beginnings of the church in Hamilton, involved some members of the Wishaw Baptist Church and a former minister of the Church of Scotland, the Rev J R Chrystal. On the 14th March 1886, the first service was held in the old Choral Hall in Hamilton. By the end of the same year, the fellowship moved to the old Granary in Almada Grange at Peacock Cross, and it was there, on the 31st December 1886, that Hamilton Baptist Church was constituted with a membership of twenty seven. By 1897, the young church had outgrown the 150 seating capacity of the Granary Hall and a disused church in Chapel Street was purchased. Pastor and people continued together in the work of the Gospel and the Church saw steady growth. In 1905, the need for a new building became clear and the present site in Kemp Street was purchased in 1907 and the present building was completed and opened in September 1909. Earlier in that year, Pastor Chrystal retired having had the joy of baptising 341 souls during his ministry.
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