History From 1851

A short account of the Rise and Progress of the Cause of God and formation of the Church, at Providence Chapel, Croydon, written by Mr. Francis Covell in the Church Book, November 25th, 1851.

It pleased the Lord to bring me to see and feel my lost state as a sinner, and to reveal His dear Son to me before I had heard the truth preached. I was in the habit of hearing the truth in the letter preached, but was very dissatisfied, yet I could not tell wherein the preaching was wanting till it pleased the Lord to bring me to hear Gadsby, Warburton, Cowper, and some other good men, when I saw plainly the deficiency of the ministry I sat under. Though I tried hard to get the people to have such men as these, it was to no purpose; therefore I quietly left, and with my wife only, met in my own little room in the High Street every Sabbath morning and evening for reading and prayer.

In the course of four or five years, we were joined by about ten or twelve others, when it pleased God to open my mouth to speak on the Sabbath evening, July 14th, 1844, from the 3rd chapter of Titus, 3rd, 4th and 5th verses. Up to this time I used to stammer in my speech, but God from that time wholly removed the impediment, to the wonder of many. I continued preaching in my house in High Street till February 1st, 1846, when the house could not hold the people, and we removed to a chapel, called "Ebenezer", in the Old Town, which I opened February 8th, 1846 - text, Psalm lxxviii 65th verse to the end. I preached in that chapel till the place was not large enough to hold the people. We then built Providence Chapel in West Street, and removed into it March 12th, 1848, and I opened it by the good hand of my God upon me on that day, text, 66th chapter of Isaiah, 1st and 2nd verses; and we have seen the good hand of the Lord with us unto this day.

I was baptised July 2nd, 1850, at Eden Street Chapel, Hampstead Road, by that man of God, Mr. Tiptaft, in the presence of a crowded congregation, and the testimony that I had from God in my heart the next morning and the day following would be enough, I am sure, to make the weakest go through the ordinance. I spoke at the pool for a short time before I went into the water. Mr. Tiptaft preached; his text was Acts xviii 8th verse. There was a baptistry built in our chapel, which was finished December 3lst, 1850. It was paid for by private subscription, likewise the well and the pump. I gave up my business June 11th, 1851, and went to live at Brighton Place, Parson's Mead, Croydon, and thus threw myself on the providence of God in giving myself wholly to the ministry.

On Thursday evening, August 14th, 1851, I baptised in Providence Chapel. It was the first time the pool was used, and the first time I baptised anyone. The three then baptised were Mr and Mrs Ridley and E. Whiffen. On Thursday evening, November 13th, 1851, I baptised my old friends Ann Dalton and George Shurlock, and now with these I intend to form my Church, and am waiting for Mr. Tiptaft to come and unite us together.

Mr. Tiptaft not being able to come on December 8th, 1851, we whose names are affixed to these articles met in the vestry of the chapel, and gave ourselves to the Lord and each other, and formed ourselves into a Church, and I trust the Lord was with us.

Francis Covell, Minister,
Thomas Wonham, Deacon,
J. B. Ridley, Ann Dalton,
G. Shurlock, Eliza Whiffen,
Jane Ridley.

History Continued in 1900

In the year 1900 it was decided to have a reprint of the Church Rules and also to record a few further particulars respecting the Church and Cause up to the (then) present time.

Our dear Pastor, Mr. Francis Covell, continued his labours in Providence Chapel until his death, which took place, after a short illness (in the 71st year of his age), on the 26th November, 1879. He was interred in the family vault at Addington Church.

His labours were signally owned and blessed, particularly in encouraging and comforting the Lord's poor, tried people, and although large numbers were not added to the Church, many were nourished and profited greatly by his ministry, which was of a deeply experimental, weighty and establishing character. He was also a man mighty in prayer, and the surname of "Israel" might well be applied to him.

The congregation increased to overflowing, and the people manifested great love and esteem for their pastor, in whose hands the secular affairs of the cause were entirely placed. These were of an exceptional character; there were no special or anniversary services held, and only one collection was made each year, but the amount sometimes reached upwards of £500. This money, together with that paid for seat rents, was given into Mr. Covell's hands. His great kindness to the poor was proverbial, and such was the implicit confidence of his people that no statement of accounts was ever asked for, nor is it known that any was kept. (See II Kings xxii. 7.)

After Mr. Covell's death the pulpit was filled by supplies, and, to the surprise of all, the congregation still increased, and in 1890 it was decided to enlarge the chapel to accommodate about 200 additional people, thus providing seats for nearly 600 persons. The alterations were completed at a cost of a little over £1,200, which was all provided by the congregation by the time the work was finished; and the chapel was re-opened by Mr. Warburton, of Southill, on 21st January, 1891.

We, as a Church and people, have been kept together and have to say, "The Lord is with us in blessing His own most precious truth, and helping His dear sent servants, by giving them grace and liberty to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly goodness and mercy have followed us hitherto".

Providence Chapel West Street, Croydon CR0 1DG Telephone Mobile: 07974 931866