BUILDING HISTORY
Sussex Street Christian Centre
The church building is linked to the history and development of the town.
In 1801 the population of Rhyl was just 289. The early 1800’s saw Rhyl, with its miles of beach, access to the sea, and clean air, gaining a reputation as a place for the Victorians’, from the industrial areas, to visit. Several convalescent homes were established and hotels built. By 1861 the number of people living here had increased to 2,965. Following the opening of Rhyl railway station in 1848 on the main-line railway from Chester, holiday-makers began coming to Rhyl in more numbers and following the introduction of bank holidays in 1871 the numbers of visitors – particularly day-trippers – increased rapidly. And so, Rhyl was established as a holiday resort.
In 1801 the population of Rhyl was just 289. The early 1800’s saw Rhyl, with its miles of beach, access to the sea, and clean air, gaining a reputation as a place for the Victorians’, from the industrial areas, to visit. Several convalescent homes were established and hotels built. By 1861 the number of people living here had increased to 2,965. Following the opening of Rhyl railway station in 1848 on the main-line railway from Chester, holiday-makers began coming to Rhyl in more numbers and following the introduction of bank holidays in 1871 the numbers of visitors – particularly day-trippers – increased rapidly. And so, Rhyl was established as a holiday resort.
The majority of Rhyl’s original inhabitants were Welsh speaking but many of those moving to Rhyl came from the large industrial areas of Liverpool, Manchester and the Midlands. There was a Welsh Baptist Chapel in the town but most of the newcomers were non-Welsh speaking and among them were Baptists who wanted to worship on a Sunday in English. Many of the influential entrepreneurs who had summer homes in the town, along with local Baptists, decided to establish an English Baptist Church in the town. The land in Sussex Street, where the church now stands, was purchased for £387 and the foundation stone laid in 1862. The building opening for public worship the following year.
The architect was F. D. Johnson of Birmingham, and the builder was James Taylor Jnr. of Rhyl.
Originally the building was only open in the summer months to accommodate the English-speaking visitors
The architect was F. D. Johnson of Birmingham, and the builder was James Taylor Jnr. of Rhyl.
Originally the building was only open in the summer months to accommodate the English-speaking visitors
Major renovation was undertaken in 1917 and 1951-63. The original floor in the church sanctuary sloped from the Sussex Street end down towards the back of the building, with rows of pews facing toward the raised pulpit. The original organ console was behind the pulpit, with the area in front of the pulpit enclosed by a rail for the Deacons. In the 1980s the floor was levelled and flexible seating introduced in order to enable the vestry to be used for a wider variety of occasions.
The Church was Listed as a Grade II Building in September 1991 for its townscape importance in the centre of Rhyl, and for its interest to the history of the Baptist movement in this area. Its establishment and early history serves to illustrate the growth of Rhyl as a holiday resort for mainly English visitors.
The Church was Listed as a Grade II Building in September 1991 for its townscape importance in the centre of Rhyl, and for its interest to the history of the Baptist movement in this area. Its establishment and early history serves to illustrate the growth of Rhyl as a holiday resort for mainly English visitors.
By Roger Handley 2020