Southampton, Baptists 

Southampton, Baptists. The following account is taken from W. A. Gamblen, Brief History of the East Street Baptist Church, Southampton (Southampton: E. Roberts, 1889). 

From about 1795, the Baptist minister at Romsey conducted occasional services at Southampton for a small fee (8). A Mr Rowcliff ministered in the last years of the century, but resigned in 1800 (8). They built a chapel in East Street that opened in 1801. In January 1805, Richard Owers of Bristol College, commenced his ministry at East Street, ordained on 24 July 1805 (11). A new chapel was built in 1818. Owers died in May 1820 (13). Mr B. H. Draper succeeded Owers in October 1820, remaining to his death in October 1843. He was succeeded by T. Morris of Portsea.  In Trowbridge a Tabernacle was established in 1771 (17), with a Mr Clark the first preacher. A Mr Innis, of Crediton, Devon, came as Clark’s assistant in 1808 and would remain as the assistant until 1812, when he removed to Camberwell.  Benjamin Kent of Croydon came in 1814.