In reviewing the first hundred years’ history of the Frimley Road Baptist Church in a short space is so difficult that only the most noteworthy events can be touched on, and the following method has been adopted for this reason. June 15th, 1819, marks the date when, what is now part of the schoolroom was formally opened as a Baptist place of worship. Fortunately an account of this interesting event is recorded in the Baptist Magazine of that year. 

The following is an extract:-New Church formed, Blackwater, near Bagshot. 

“A new place of worship, formerly in the occupation of the Wesleyan Methodists, has been re-opened, a congregation has been collected, and the ministry of the word has been blessed to the conversion of some, through the labours of Mr. Bergwin. 

June 15th, 1819, a meeting was held in the above place, to witness the formation of the church of the Particular Baptist Denomination. In the fore-noon, Mr. Coles of Oakingham stated the reasons of dissent, and described the nature of a Gospel Church, Mr. William Shenstone gave the right hand of fellowship to the friends, whose union was thus recognised, and delivered a suitable address. Mr. Coles engaged in prayer. Mr. Upton preached from 1 John ch. 4 v.10-11. In the afternoon, Mr. Shenstone preached from Eccles. 3-5 (former part) Mr. Dawson of Staines, and Mr. Bailey of Windsor, assisted in the devotional exercise of the day”. It will thus be seen that the centenary we celebrate in June does not mark the beginning of Baptist religious effort in the town, but the hundredth anniversary of the formation of the church. 

October 3rd. 1832.  Thirteen years later the church were compelled by adverse circumstances to affiliate with the Baptist church at Wokingham, and advantage appears to have been taken then to convey the property by means of a legal Deed into the hands of Trustees for the use of the Baptist Denomination, and also providing for the future polity of the church, both as regarding its form of government, and the doctrines to be preached. 

For the following twenty-eight years the church was presumably ministered to by local preachers under the supervision of Wokingham.

In 1860, Mr. Stephen Sale of Wokingham, a man of sterling character and of deep piety was invited to take the oversight, and it was during his gracious ministry that the need of better and increased accommodation became a pressing necessity. 

August 3rd. 1871. There are red letter days in most of our lives and in the history of churches and this was a red letter day in the history of the church, for the new chapel, which cost approximately £800, was opened practically free of debt. The opening sermons were preached by the Rev. Charles Stovell and the Rev. Clement Bailhache. 

1877. The Sunday School has from the first been one of the leading activities of the church, but up to the time of the opening of the new chapel it had been conducted under very difficult conditions, but now, having a room of its own and the rearrangement of the high backed seats the conditions were easier, but the time soon came when the need became pressing of a larger room. This was accomplished by removing the back wall and erecting another room, thus providing the handsome school now used. October 1st. 1877. Independence being part of the Baptist creed, it was now felt the time was ripe for separation from the Wokingham church, and permission was therefore asked of that church to withdraw. This was accordingly granted. 

February 26th. 1879. Up to this time the membership of the church had been confined to baptised believers, but under the ministry of Mr. Cracknell and the liberal views of the deacons, it was unanimously resolved that the membership should be open to all persons giving satisfactory evidence of their conversion to God.

1888. Being free of debt, and having now a resident minister, it was resolved to purchase a house. This was done, but owing to some objections, it was decided to sell this and to purchase land and build. The Manse in the Frimley Road was accordingly built. The total cost being £570 3s 1 .1/2d 

Further accommodation being needed for the Sunday School, plans were discussed as to the best means to supply the need. At the opportune moment the property adjoining the chapel was offered for the sum of £400. As the large room at the back gave the additional room required it was decided to purchase. 

1909. For a long time the need of a pipe organ for the musical part of the services had been much felt, and in this year the first practical steps were taken to raise the necessary funds. The order was eventually placed with Messrs. Cartwright & Sons, and the beautiful instrument was opened by a recital conducted by Mr. Cartwright on December 11th, 1912. The total cost was £197. 2s. 0d. 

During the past sixty years the following pastors have successively served the Church. Some have passed within the veil, others are engaged in spheres of service elsewhere. 

Stephen Sale - 1860-1878. J.E.Cracknell -1878-1881. H.J.Martin 1883-1885. J.W.Spear. - 1886-1892. W.G.Butt. - 1893-1894. J.M.Bergin. - 1895-1899 F.Burnett. - 1899-1903. J.Ewen. - 1904-1908. W.Wheatley. - 1909-1913 W.J.Phillips. - 1915 

The progressive and missionary efforts of the church are not unworthy of mention. 

The Baptist chapel at Sunningdale, which had been closed for some months was reopened and services sustained till a pastor was appointed. 

Baptist chapel built at Sandhurst (since formed into a separate church). For some years this was supplied with preachers by the Frimley Road church. 

Cottage meetings started at Frogmore, resulting in a Mission Hall being built which is paid for and is self-supporting. 

The Primitive Methodist Chapel at Obelisk Street purchased, and successful services and Sunday School carried on till taken over by our Congregational brethren. 

Pastoral oversight given to the Baptist friends at Crowthorne, resulting in land being purchased, and a chapel erected. 

We are justly proud of the hundred years; prouder still of the men and women who have laboured so faithfully and well, but the heritage of the past is not a thing to be proud of only, it is a great and solemn call. The Master said to the disciples, “Other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.” The work commenced at Frimley Road a hundred and more years ago, and we who remain are entered into the labours of those who have passed on, and every one of us need remind himself or herself of the great apostle’s words, “It is required of stewards that a man be found faithful.” Other men laboured, on whose shoulders do their mantles rest? Not on pastors only, not on the deacons only, not on the Sunday School teachers only, but on each and all. 

The following fifty years. The church safe was stolen in April 1965 and although it contained little money, old Minute Books, which could have provided more accurate data, have been lost for ever. However, with the help of some of the older members, we have been able to compile a fairly general account of the more recent history of the church. 

First, a word about the ministers who have served our church so faithfully over the years. 

The Rev. Macaulay followed the Rev. Phillips but did not stay very long. One thing which is remembered of Mr. Macaulay is the day when the Sunday School was about to set out on an outing to Bagshot Park by horse and cart. The horse was frightened by the banner being put up and bolted. Mr. Macaulay tried to reach the reins only to be thrown down, the wheels of the cart narrowly missing him as he lay on the ground. 

Then came Rev. L.C. Hasler, not a Baptist Union man, we think, but a very forceful preacher. His hairstyle was similar to some of the young men of today. 

Rev. Wildey - a very kindly and considerate minister was with us for about nine years from 1930, having been for many years a missionary in Africa before finding it necessary to come home due to his wife’s ill health. Many of the illustrations for his sermons were based on his experiences as a missionary, and with his dealings with the African people. 

Rev. B.J. Morgan served us during the war years and was particularly concerned with the pastoral care of his people, and had the Sandhurst Church to look after as well. He did a great deal of visiting, most of which was done with the use of a bicycle. 

Rev. C.J.Nelson - 1949-1952. During that time a mission was held at Frogmore, when houses were visited and services held outside the Mission Hall. In all it was not a great success but one outcome was the re-starting of a Sunday School which continued for about 10 years, run in the first place by some friends living in Frogmore, but when they moved away, work was carried out by folk from our church. 

Rev. R.H. Young came to us straight from Bristol Baptist College in 1953-1960. Mr. Young brought with him fresh ideas and a new sense of purpose. His ministry was a happy one for us and in spite of many material setbacks during those years, the people rose to the occasion when extra funds were required. During that time we had a moving population of members and friends which made settled arrangements for organisation very difficult as we were ever hesitant to commence anything lest the leaders appointed should be moved on. The outstanding project of Mr. Young’s ministry was the “Near Neighbour Mission” in 1957-58 when some 170-200 homes within a mile of the church were visited. Prior to this, Christmas cards had been sent out and later letters inviting folk to services. Letters and cards also followed the time of visitation. Although the work showed no startling results it was agreed that there was evidence that it was a worth-while task and the kind of work the church should be doing. It was felt that many who might not have done so, had been challenged to think about God. It was during Mr Young`s ministry that it was agreed to recognise the church as CAMBERLEY BAPTIST CHURCH, dropping the former FRIMLEY ROAD part of the title. 

The majority of present members and friends will not need to be reminded of the ministry of Rev. Alan Staple who was also in Camberley for seven years. After his coming in 1961 the church seemed to experience a change in several ways. First of all it was noticeable that, at one stage, the transfer of members from other churches up and down the country was considerable higher than at any other time during the history of the church. 

There was a trend towards larger congregations in the morning and perhaps a reduction in the evening . With the commencement of Family Church the members made the use of the gallery a necessity for the first part of the service. Something which had not been known for many years. 

We remember an “Inner Mission” in October 1964 led by Rev. R.E.O.White. Many felt that their minds were stimulated and they were strengthened for service in the future. With the inauguration of the Local Council of Churches, greater opportunity has been given to local churches to share in worship and discussion and it could be said that much of the interest, which is evident, is the result of Mr. Staple’s enthusiasm in the early days following the foundation of the council, of which he was chairman for some time. 

More recently has been the Stewardship Campaign, which Mr. Staple was able to lead us in before his departure to Kings Lynn. 

1969 Brought us the Rev. Christopher Russell. He gave over 44 years of ministry to Camberley along with his wife Ruth and helped 3 Counties in its Inauguration. He was a minister full of energy and ideas, always innovative and hard working. During his ministry we started the church at Frimley, and restarted the churches of Cove, Hartley Wintney, Sherfield on Loddon, Alton. He was responsible for introducing a foreign language school, where children from Europe would come over to England for a theological holiday and stay with some members of the church at their homes and also learn about the English language and actively take part in the services. In 2013 Chris Russell retired from the ministry of 3 Counties Church. 

At present, the next chapter in the history archive is yet to be written – Rev Richard Lane and his wife Anne joined the church in June 2014 and have taken up the reigns of the ministry.