The first recognised Baptist union in Walthamstow is about to celebrate the centenary of its Church building.

Built in June 1914 at the cost of £5,000, the Central Baptist Church in Orford Road, Walthamstow was the vision of Scottish reverend William Murray who sought to expand the Church’s congregation.

The union originally came together in 1874 after a group of largely Calvinist Christians living in the Markshouse Common area of Walthamstow decided to worship the principles of the Baptist church.

As a result, the Markhouse Common Baptist Church was founded on June 11 1876 with just 20 members and thereafter expanded to the Boundary Road Baptist Church which has been used as a synagogue since 1920.

Reverend Murray moved to London for bible training and quickly became the third pastor of the Boundary Road church where he baptised over 800 people until his death.

According to Church Deacon Jim Moore, of Merton Road, Walthamstow, "Reverend Murray was  the main man.

"Without his vision, enthusiasm and leadership, the Orford Road building would certainly not have been built.

"He encouraged the congregation to find a new site in the heart of Walthamstow."

His influence had been instrumental in the church’s growth of popularity and by 1905, membership had soared to 380.  

But by 1914, he had become terminally ill and died one month after the opening of the Orford Road church on June 13 1914.

It was built to hold a capacity of 650 people by Lambeth-born architect William Church who described the holy building in the opening programme as "early fifteenth century gothic and external red sand-faced bricks with dressings of Ridge Park stone and Welsh slated roofs."

Over the years, the foundation of the church has not changed but its membership has dwindled, according to Mr Moore. 

"We’ve had to respond to changes in society and meet modern needs as our membership is nowadays a lot more ethnically diverse.

"However, I still consider the Central Baptist Church to be a very much local-community based worship place."

To mark the Church’s centenary, Reverend Robert Jeffrey is hoping to fill the 650 seats and lead his service and songs of praise on June 15 from 5:30pm.

The 150 year-old Organ will be played as well as songs and hymns that are reflective of the past century.