History of HBC

The beginnings of Hamilton Baptist Church involved members of Wishaw Baptist Church and a former minister of the Church of Scotland – the Rev J R Chrystal. On the 14th March 1886, the first service was held in the old Choral Hall in Hamilton. By the end of the same year, the fellowship moved to the old Granary in Almada Grange at Peacock Cross, and it was there, on the 31st December 1886, that Hamilton Baptist Church was constituted with a membership of twenty seven.

By 1897, the young church had outgrown the 150 seating capacity of the Granary Hall and a disused United Presbyterian Church in Chapel Street was purchased (£750). Pastor and people continued together in the work of the Gospel and the Church saw steady growth.

In 1905, the need for a new building became clear and the present site in Kemp Street was purchased in 1907 and the present building was completed (at a cost of 5387 pounds 19 shillings and 6 pence) and opened in September 1909. Earlier in that year, Pastor Chrystal retired having had the joy of baptising 341 souls during his ministry.

Previous Pastors

Since Hamilton Baptist Church began in 1886, the church has had the pleasure of 15 pastors, detailed below. Our current pastors are Derek Hutchinson and Graham Shearer.

	Dates	Pastor
	1886 – 1909	Rev J R Chrystal
	1909 – 1912	Rev Edward Last
	1913 – 1924	Rev A Bell Johnston
	1925 – 1932	Rev George Douglas
	1933 – 1934	Rev T W Lister
	1934 – 1941	Rev R F Conway
	1942 – 1945	Rev James Taylor
	1945 – 1951	Rev D B Thomas
	1951 – 1969	Rev John M Dines
	1970 – 1976	Rev Gordon Heath
	1977 – 1983	Rev Alistair Begg
	1982 – 1986	Rev David Hart
	1989 – 1999	Rev David Hunt
	2005 – present	Rev Derek Hutchinson
	2007 – present	Rev Graham Shearer