Marshalswick Baptists welcome new minister 

The Revd Darren Street has become only the sixth minister in the 55-year history of Marshalswick Baptist Free Church (MBFC), St Albans

Inducted to the pastorate at Marshalswick on 27 May by Central Baptist Association Regional Minister, the Revd Andrew Openshaw, Darren was trained at Spurgeon’s College in London and comes to St Albans from a 16-year ministry in Hayes, Bromley.

During the service, Darren was officially welcomed by the church’s oldest and youngest congregants: Jean Peake, 95, and 13-month old Ffion Griffiths. Darren and his wife, Ruth, also received the gift of an olive tree from the church’s young people.

The address at the service was given by the Baptist Union of Great Britain’s Small Church Enabler, Hilary Taylor.

Other speakers at the service, bringing messages of welcome representing the wider community, included District Councillor Lorraine Kirby; Parish Councillor John Hale; Caroline Upton, of the Busy Bees Playgroup that meets at MBFC; Wheatfields Infants School’s Clare Cockburn, representing all the schools on Marshalswick; Chris Penn, of Dagnall Street Baptist Church, and the Revd John Hardacre, representing Churches Together in Marshalswick.

Helen Little, the church’s secretary, commented, 'Over the last couple of years MBFC has seen growth and renewal. In particular, our Sunday Club has been revived by an influx of new families.

'We look forward to continuing serving our community with Darren now spearheading our presence, making a difference in our locality.'

Marshalswick Baptist Free Church began in 1880 – as Tabernacle Baptist Church - worshipping in the old Corn Exchange, in Market Place, St Albans, before moving to custom-built premises in Victoria Street.

It combined with a group of Free Church worshippers on the newly built Marshalswick estate to form Marshalswick Baptist Free Church in 1967. Primarily serving the Marshalswick community, its (current) premises were officially opened in 1968. Currently, well over 1,000 people use its facilities and resources each week. 


Image | Darren Street and wife Ruth are flanked by Small Church Enabler Hilary Taylor (left) and Regional Minister Andrew Openshaw