Hull Boulevard Baptist Church History up to 1912

HULL:
Hull Boulevard Baptist Church History up to 1912.

Although the City of Hull returned a population of 278,024 at the last census, and the Baptists have held an interest there for more than a century and a half, we have only three Churches within the city limits. These, happily, are housed in new premises, and as they occupy commanding situations we may confidently anticipate their future progress and an enlargement of denominational life. The Boulevard Church must be regarded as representing the earliest Baptist effort, although the Baptist Historical Society has evidence that, about the year 1700, a member of the Motherby family of Hambleton spent a large sum in building a Baptist chapel in Hull.*

The Boulevard Church was founded May 15th, 1736, by "a handful of the dust of Zion, residing in and about Kingston-upon-Hull." John Gibson was called to be pastor, but before his ordination met death by drowning when voyaging to London. The records of the Church's first century are extremely scanty, occupying only nine pages of its minute book. Removing to Salthouse Lane in 1757, it worshipped there until 1866, when it migrated to South Street. Amongst its ministers, the names of John Beatson (1771-94); W. Arborn (1811-18); J. McPherson (1820-37), and D. M. Thomson (1837-60) stand conspicuous.

In 1795, a secession of members formed the George Street Church, and again, in 1885, a similar withdrawal resulted in the cause of Trafalgar Street. At the close of last century another removal was recognised to be imperative, the neighbourhood having become absorbed into the business part of the city. With the assistance of the Twentieth Century Fund, and the County Association, this was effected; and on May 21st, 1903, the fine suite of buildings on the Boulevard was opened. The Rev. Robert Wood undertook the charge of the Church in its new home, remaining until 1910, when he was succeeded by Rev. A. H. Sutherland.

NOTES:
* The only reference to this family that I know is in the Bridlington church-book. About the year 1725, George Motherby applied for his dismission from the Isle of Axholme Church, to Bridlington. The Bridlington Church wrote a letter of strong reproof to Axholme. "You can't but remember, some of you at least, yt George Motherby, who lives now at Hull, has signified his desire some months if not some years ago to have a letter of recommendation and dismission from you to ye Church of Christ, in ye practiss of believer's baptism meeting at Bridlington : but be has receiv'd no answer from you in all this time, &c."