18th Century Revival and Presbyterian Church
In the 18th century the mainline churches were weakened and corrupted by lack of passionate commitment to the full reality of Biblical teaching. Tunbridge Wells benefited from visiting preachers who boldly urged listeners to turn to Jesus for new spiritual life. John Wesley visited the town and found he was welcomed to preach in the Presbyterian Church then on Mt. Ephraim. Subsequent preachers such as Venn preached outside that church to crowds in the street who could not fit inside.
John Wesley wrote in his diary:
''I preached at Tunbridge Wells, in the large Presbyterian meeting-house' 1781
'I went to Tunbridge Wells from London, but not without difficulty, part of the road being made scarce passable, through the abundance of rain. I preached in the large Presbyterian meeting-house, but the violent rain thinned the congregation.' 1784
Countess of Huntington
Many today have little experience of church. Many today feel the strain of trying to live life without knowing God in a deep meaningful way. Our times are similar to the 18th century. Then, as today, ministers such as John Wesley and George Whitefield laboured outside the structures of the Church of England. They preached about Jesus in ways that led thousands to turn to God.
A wealthy and strategic woman, Selina the Countess of Huntington, financed building churches.
Selina was concerned for Tunbridge Wells. She wrote, ‘I have waited on the Lord and I did not visit Tunbridge Wells till I was confidently assured that he had called me there. The fields are white for harvest. May the precious name of him who died be made very dear to many in this place.’
The Church Selina financed to support the work that grew out of Whitefield's revival was called Emmanuel Church. When we planted our church in 2019 we used the same name, to indicate continuity with the experiential calvinism of Whitefield's ministry.
In Tunbridge Wells, Emmanuel Church occupied a prominent position on Mount Ephraim for more than 200 years. Many older residents in the town remember the building fondly. Sadly, Emmanuel Church in Tunbridge Wells was demolished in 1974 to provide better access to a hospital - and of course the hospital itself has since been demolished as well.
At the time, the Civic Society called it an act of ‘cultural vandalism’ and a memorial stone was erected on the place where the church once stood. This is all remains physically of the original building. But in our church, the Spiritual work and vision continues today.
The history of our Church in Tunbridge Wells is a story of entrepreneurial faith and outreach. Come visit us to discover how Tunbridge Wells Presbyterian Church is reviving the exciting vision of Selina, Venn and Whitefield.
New Buildings, New Name
Our founding members were led to plant our church in 2019 on the Showfields Estate. We hired buildings from a community centre. In late 2023 that community centre was on the verge of bankruptcy, and the local council officers asked our church would we take responsibility for it. Our church has been supporting the community centre to keep serving the community. Urgent repairs to the buildings have been carried out; church members have been ensuring that community groups such as dance classes, a library, boxing club and weekly cafe, among others, can run.
As God led us to new buildings, the members voted to become Presbyterian - and with that came a new name and renewed vision to serve the town God has placed us in.
Today Tunbridge Wells Presbyterian Church meets 1 mile to the southwest of where the original Emmanuel Church once stood. We meet at the Number One Community Centre on the Showfield's Estate at 10.30am & 6pm.
Come and worship with us this Sunday!