Past ministers

Here is some information about past ministers of the church.

1. William Thomas Rickard (1837-1896)

Born Pennycross, Devon.

Founder and first pastor. Minister 1865-1894.

Previously at Hunton Bridge, Herts and Heath Street, Hampstead.

Married to Mary S Rickard. Three children including daughters Mrs Moore and Emily.
Lived in Homelea, The Ridge.
2. J(ames) Sylvester Poulton (1861-1942)

Born Dalston, London.
Studied Spurgeon's Pastor's College.

Second pastor. Minister 1894-1928.

Previously at Winslow and Cote.

Married to Emily Poulton. Six children (Percy, etc).
Lived in Fernleigh, Avenue Villas.
3. Ernest Kennard Alexander (1885-1956)

Born Newport, Monmouthshire.

Third pastor. Minister 1928-1953.

Previously a missionary in the Congo then briefly minister at Highams Park.

Married to F Alexander (nee Clare). A first son died in the Congo. There was also a second, F H Alexander.
Lived in Crewys Road and retired to Nant Road.

4. Leslie Wright (d 1990)

Born ?
Fourth pastor. Minister 1954-1961.

Subsequently at Netherton (61-68?), Potters Bar (69-76) and Clacton (82-90).

Married with children.
Lived in Crewys Road manse.
5. John Lionel Pretlove (b 1939)

Born South West London
Studied Spurgeon's College
Fifth pastor. Minister 1963-1970.

Subsequently ministered in Sheffield then America (Criswell Seminary, Dallas)

Married to Rosemary Violet Wigan from the congregation. Two daughters born while in Childs Hill (and later a son). Later remarried following Rosemary's death.
Lived in Crewys Road manse.
6. Anthony Sandys (d 2007)

Sixth pastor. Minister 1971-1975.

Subsequently involved in various churches and various occupations.

Married to Joy Sandys. At least one child.
Lived in Crewys Road manse.
7. Mark P Sharman (b 1949?)

Studied Trinity, Bristol
Seventh pastor. Minister 1976-1981.

Subsequently ministering in Newcastle. Married to Sandy Sharman. Two children while here, one later.
Lived in Crewys Road manse.

Mother church

This is Heath Street, Hampstead as originally conceived

Membership Card

I am unsure of the date of this item

Old Childs Hill

This is a copy of an (idealised?) Childs Hill scene from the 18th Century

Childs Hill 1866

In 1866 the Transactions of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science By National Association for the Promotion of Social Science (Great Britain) appeared under the names of George Woodyatt Hastings, Andrew Edgar, Edwin Pears and Charles Wager Ryalls. An interesting reference to Childs Hill appears on page 75.

... It is almost impossible under our present laws to initiate sanitary improvement in the villages and small towns of the country. The most gigantic nuisances are allowed to grow up without let or hindrance, and it is only when some terrible calamity visits a place, that any action is taken. The Metropolitan boundary is studded with villages that the Management Act does not reach, and which are a disgrace to our civilisation. Such a village exists at Childs Hill, in the midst of a farm belonging to the Lord President of the Privy Council. I mention this to show how defective our sanitary legislation is at the present moment, so that the representative of all sanitary authority in Her Majesty's Government is helpless to remove nuisances at his very door. ...

This fits with what Mr Poulton later wrote in a piece about the church's early days.

First Church Minute Book

Pew number plaque

This is an old pew number plaque, presumably from the earliest days (1870s).