Charlotte Baptist Chapel
Encyclopedia
Charlotte Chapel is a church in Rose Street
in central Edinburgh
, Scotland
, UK
. Though calling itself a Baptist Chapel, it is in reality an independent church and is not a part of the Baptist Union of Scotland
, which is the official denominational body of Baptists in Scotland.
area of the city. By 1816 his Pleasance church was too small, and he bought Charlotte Chapel, recently vacated by the Scottish Episcopal Church
, who had moved to St John's Church, on Princes Street
. The original building seated 750. Anderson was pastor until 1851. Membership peaked at 232 in 1873, although many more attended services. Membership began to fall due to emigration, and by 1901 the church had no minister and only a small congregation. Joseph Kemp, of Hawick
, was appointed pastor, and began a revival, holding open-air meetings in Princes Street. Membership rose once more and in 1907 plans for a new building were prepared. The present church was opened in 1912, at a cost of £7,250, with seating for exactly 1000. The only alteration was the creation of a lounge in 1984.
Rose Street
Rose Street is a street in the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a narrow street running parallel between Princes Street and George Street, and was formerly used as a service entrance to the houses on those roads as well as local shops and servants quarters. Today, it is principally a...
in central Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Though calling itself a Baptist Chapel, it is in reality an independent church and is not a part of the Baptist Union of Scotland
Baptist Union of Scotland
The Baptist Union of Scotland is the main denomination of Baptist churches in Scotland.-From the 1650s to 1869:Baptists first arrived in Scotland with the armies of English republican Oliver Cromwell in the 1650s, who established small churches in Leith, Perth, Cupar, Ayr and Aberdeen, but they did...
, which is the official denominational body of Baptists in Scotland.
History
The church was established in January 1808, when Christopher Anderson, a young Edinburgh businessman, began evangelical work in the PleasancePleasance
The Pleasance is a street in the Old Town, Edinburgh, Scotland. It is largely residential, although the University of Edinburgh owns property in the area.-University of Edinburgh union:...
area of the city. By 1816 his Pleasance church was too small, and he bought Charlotte Chapel, recently vacated by the Scottish Episcopal Church
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
, who had moved to St John's Church, on Princes Street
Princes Street
Princes Street is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, and its main shopping street. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, stretching around 1 mile from Lothian Road in the west to Leith Street in the east. The street is mostly closed to private...
. The original building seated 750. Anderson was pastor until 1851. Membership peaked at 232 in 1873, although many more attended services. Membership began to fall due to emigration, and by 1901 the church had no minister and only a small congregation. Joseph Kemp, of Hawick
Hawick
Hawick is a town in the Scottish Borders of south east Scotland. It is south-west of Jedburgh and south-southeast of Selkirk. It is one of the farthest towns from the sea in Scotland, in the heart of Teviotdale, and the biggest town in the former county of Roxburghshire. Hawick's architecture is...
, was appointed pastor, and began a revival, holding open-air meetings in Princes Street. Membership rose once more and in 1907 plans for a new building were prepared. The present church was opened in 1912, at a cost of £7,250, with seating for exactly 1000. The only alteration was the creation of a lounge in 1984.
Senior Pastors of Charlotte Chapel
- W. Graham Scroggie (1916 - 1933)
- J. Sidlow BaxterJ. Sidlow BaxterJ. Sidlow Baxter was a pastor and theologian who authored as many as thirty books analysing the Bible and advocating a Christian theological perspective...
(1935 - 1953) - Gerald Griffiths (1954 - 1962)
- Alan RedpathAlan RedpathAlan Redpath , was a well-known British evangelist, pastor and author.-Biography:Alan Redpath was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, the only son of James and Christina Redpath. He went to Durham School, and then studied to be chartered accountant in Newcastle, completing this in 1928. He then worked as...
(1964 - 1968) - Derek Prime (1969 - 1987)
- Peter Grainger (1992 - 2009)
- Paul Rees (2009 - date)
Worship
There are two services every Sunday, the first one at 11:00am and the second one at 6:30pm.Building
The church building has 5 floors. In the basement is an area usually used for babysitting during worship, toilets can also be found here. There is a meeting room on the first floor with a small kitchen. The main worship hall and the balcony are on second and third floors. The fourth floor is used as another meeting room.Belief
The doctrinal basis http://www.charlottechapel.org/about/belief.php of Charlotte Baptist Chapel is the fundamental truths of Christianity, as revealed in Holy Scripture, including:- There is one God in three persons, the Father, the SonJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
and the Holy SpiritHoly SpiritHoly Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
. - God is sovereign in creation, revelation, redemption and final judgement.
- The Bible, as originally given, is the inspired and infallible Word of God. It is the supreme authority in all matters of belief and behaviour.
- Since the fallThe Fall of ManIn Christian doctrine, the Fall of Man, or simply the Fall, refers to the transition of the first humans from a state of innocent obedience to God to a state of guilty disobedience to God. In Genesis chapter 2, Adam and Eve live at first with God in a paradise, but the serpent tempts them into...
, the whole of humankind is sinfulSinfulTo be sinful is to have committed an act that violates a known moral rule.Sinful may also refer to:* Sinful , a 1979 hard rock album* Sinful , a 1965 Mexican film-See also:* Sin * Sinner...
and guilty, so that everyone is subject to God's wrath and condemnation. - The Lord Jesus ChristJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, God's incarnate Son, is fully God; he was born of a virgin; his humanity is real and sinless; he died on the cross, was raised bodily from death and is now reigning over heaven and earth. - SinfulSinfulTo be sinful is to have committed an act that violates a known moral rule.Sinful may also refer to:* Sinful , a 1979 hard rock album* Sinful , a 1965 Mexican film-See also:* Sin * Sinner...
human beings are redeemed from the guilt, penalty and power of sinSinIn religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
only through the sacrificial death once and for all time of their representative and substitute, Jesus ChristJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, the only mediator between them and God. - Those who believe in ChristJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
are pardoned all their sins and accepted in God's sight only because of the righteousness of ChristJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
credited to them; this justification is God's act of undeserved mercy, received solely by trust in him and not by their own efforts. - The Holy SpiritHoly SpiritHoly Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
alone makes the work of ChristJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
effective to individual sinners, enabling them to turn to God from their sin and to trust in Jesus ChristJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
. - The Holy SpiritHoly SpiritHoly Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
lives in all those he has regenerated. He makes them increasingly Christlike in character and behaviour and gives them power for their witness in the world. - The one holy universal church is the Body of ChristBody of ChristIn Christian theology, the term Body of Christ has two separate connotations: it may refer to Jesus's statement about the Eucharist at the Last Supper that "This is my body" in , or the explicit usage of the term by the Apostle Paul in to refer to the Christian Church.Although in general usage the...
, to which all true believers belong. - The Lord Jesus ChristJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
will return in person, to judge everyone, to execute God's just condemnation on those who have not repented and to receive the redeemed to eternal glory.
About
Charlotte Chapel has several 'daughter' churches:- Niddrie Community Church in the NiddrieNiddrie, EdinburghThis article is about Niddrie, a suburb of Edinburgh. See also: Longniddry, Niddry Castle.Niddrie is a suburb of south east Edinburgh, Scotland, UK...
area of Edinburgh. - Wester Hailes Baptist ChurchWester Hailes Baptist ChurchWester Hailes Baptist Church is a church in the Wester Hailes area of west Edinburgh, Scotland, founded in 1971....
(founded 1971) - Barnton Baptist Church (founded 1986)