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Church History

The People

Early Origins

More to follow

Thriving in the eighties

During the eighties, the church was very active. There was a large and thriving youth community with many events being held throughout the year. These images were taken at an inter-church Sunday School sports event.

The Nineties Decline

More to follow

A new hope

With the appointment of Marion Markwei as the pastor in 2008, a new era has begun. The church is slowly growing and, with God's blessings, will continue to do so. Why not come and be part of the next chapter in the history of Temple Hill Baptist Church.

The Building

Temple Hill takes its name from the manor which once stood nearby belonging to the Knights Templar.

Dartford's Temple Hill Estate was developed in response to the post-Second World War housing crisis. In 1945, many local families who had been bombed-out during the war were accommodated in prefabricated bungalows at Princes Road, and in temporary accommodation. There was an urgent need for mass good-quality housing in the local area. The council decided to develop a new housing estate on the outskirts of Dartford, which would almost be self-sufficient, in essence, a town in miniature, with shops, social and sports facilities and an extensive range of traditional houses and flats. The intention was to build an estate incorporating 1,800 family units. The traditional brick-built houses would be larger than those of pre-war standard and the design would "conform with the best aims of post-war planning, as far as is practicable within a limited cost".

Temple Hill estate Dartford Council intended to build flats "...to include all modern facilities such as refuse removal, central heating, clothes drying rooms and pram and bicycle stores on the ground floor". Sufficient shops would be provided "to satisfy the immediate needs of the housewife".

The first phase of the project at Temple Hill was a triumphant success for the council. The official opening was conducted by the Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, on 4 June 1947. Attlee declared "We want people to have places they will love; places in which they will be happy and where they will form a community and have a social life and a civic life...Here in Dartford you are setting an example of how this should be done".

Laying the foundation stones in the front wall

Temple Hill Baptist Church was built in 1956 as a part of the new model housing estate of Temple Hill. A large area of land to the East of the current building was purchased with a view to creating a community centre at the heart of the estate.

The church as it stands today was originally designed to be the church hall. The main church was never built and land reserved for its erection was used to build warden assisted flats (now known as Norwood Court). These flats were managed by the Church and owned by the Baptist Men's Movement Housing Association but have since been sold to private management and are no longer a part of the Church.

The building as it stands in 2009

This sometimes gives rise to interesting issues as the land between Norwood Court and the Church (originally church land and therefore no issue) is now part of Norwood Court and so access to the East elevation of our building is not possible without permission from Norwood Court.

Also, the garage that adjoins the Church and has its entrance in our front car park belongs to Norwood Court. Unfortunately, people who use our car park do not always realise that this is not our garage and park in front of it. Please bear this in mind if you choose to visit us.