The following are common Baptist Church beliefs.
The Lordship of Christ
We declare that Jesus is Lord. He is Lord over our individual lives, the life of each Church, and the life of the whole world. This video describes who Jesus was, why he came to earth and what this means for us.
The authority of the Bible
We affirm that the Bible is the Word of God because its writers were inspired by God’s Spirit. As such, it has authority to guide both what we believe and how we live our lives.
Baptism for believers
From the example of the New Testament, we recognise that baptism is for those who believe and are prepared to declare that Jesus is Lord. As a symbol of Jesus’ claim on our lives, baptism by immersion is practiced, representing a desire to die to self and to live for Christ. More about Baptism.
A believers’ church
We understand the Church to be a community of believers gathered in the name of Jesus Christ for worship, teaching, witness and service. There is no set Baptist liturgy. Prayer and praise, listening and reflecting on Scripture, and sharing Communion will always be central.
The priesthood of all believers
We believe that everyone who attends has a role to play and can use their God-given skills and talents for the good of the Church and the community. These gifts include teaching, evangelism, social action, pastoral care, prayer, healing, taking part in worship, administration and hospitality.
Church membership
Church members are called to prayerfully discern God’s will for their shared life. Final authority does not rest with the ministers, deacons or any other local, national or international body, but with the members’ meeting together under God’s guidance. Church meetings make significant appointments, including ministers, and agree financial policy and mission. Keep scrolling for more information about Church membership!
Interdependence
We do not live in isolation from other churches but rather we are inter-dependent. PBC plays an active role in Churches Together in Purley & Kenley as well as being linked to others Baptist Churches via our membership of the national Baptists Together organisation.
Sharing the faith
Baptists believe that each Christian has a duty to share their faith with others. We recognise that mission is not just evangelism, but also includes promoting justice, social welfare, healing, education and peace in the world.
A formal statement of our beliefs is in our Articles of Faith, part of our Memorandum and Articles of Association. We hold to the UK Baptists Together Declaration of Principle.
To find out more about our beliefs then please do contact Tim, one of our ministers: tim.allen@purleybaptist.org.
We are committed to supporting key mission organisations,
specifically International Needs and Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
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Watch this space for updates from International Needs about their Kenya Street Boys project for a Leadership and Talent Centre which we hope to actively support. This follows on from the success of their WASH project, and Bulyassi village supported by PBC.
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The Beckwith family who serve with Mission Aviation Fellowship in Australia joined us at PBC back in 2020. If you want to receive their quarterly newsletter then do contact the Church Office.
OUR MISSIONARIES
Our mission partners, working either overseas or in the UK.
Nick & Amanda Lunn
Nick and Amanda serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators. After working on a New Testament in Kenya, Nick is now working as a Translation Consultant on a number of different Bible translations in eastern and central Asia. His main project at the moment is the Kurdish Old Testament, for the Kurds living in Turkey. Amanda has an ongoing interest in a project to help rehabilitate Nairobi street children that she was involved in when living in Kenya. This is a growing project - visit the International Needs website.
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Mark & Jenny Beckwith
Mark and Jenny have been serving with MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) since 2009. They are currently based in Mareeba, Queensland, Australia where Mark is the Maintenance Planner. Jenny recently handed over the role of Communications Officer. Mareeba is the heavy maintenance support base and training centre for both pilots and engineers, serving MAF programmes across the Asia Pacific Region and beyond, with over 30 international families based there. Mark and Jenny have two daughters, Abigail and Naomi.
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Teddy & Didi Oprenov
Teddy and Didi pastor a growing Baptist Church in Sofia, Bulgaria. They also minister to children in orphanages, homeless people, refugees and help with literacy skills among children in the Roma community. They have two daughters, Sophia and Ami.
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James & Jayne Tetley
James served as Associate Minister at Purley Baptist Church between 2008 and 2014. In November 2014, James started serving Crossroads Church in Geneva as the Associate Pastor. Crossroads Church is a multi-denominational church with over 65 nationalities from around the world. It is an exciting and challenging missionary context to be working with France being a highly secular country. James and Jayne have four children, Grace, Eliana, Stephen and Joy. As a family they love being outdoors, and going on walks ('but not too long' - according to the children.
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If you are interested in joining the international mission team or have any other questions,please contact the church office.
Prayer is at the heart of our relationship with God and an important part of our life together as a church family.
We encourage one another in the joy and rhythm of praying each day.
2026 Prayer Dates
18 Feb | 18 Mar | 22 Apr | 20 May | 17 Jun | 22 Jul | 19 Aug | 16 Sept | 21 Oct | 18 Nov | 16 Dec
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Additional prayer gatherings
Friday Prayer Meeting 12pm-1pm
Praying for the lives, activities and wellbeing of PBC, including its church members, leadership team and all ministries connected to the church. |
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Can we pray for you?
We would love to pray with you for a specific situation or person.
Please email us with your prayer request or call 020 8668 0422 (answerphone available).
You can also find out more about pastoral care HERE.
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Baptism is part of what has been called ‘the normal Christian birth’.
Jesus’ parting words to his followers were:
'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything have commanded you.'
Matthew 28:19-20
It is important to recognise that we are told to baptise disciples, not believers. There may be a vast difference between the two; after all demons are ‘believers’ (James 2:19). So it is our aim to become disciples of Jesus Christ and part of that process is to submit to Christian baptism.
The Cost of Discipleship
Luke 14:25-34
Baptism is for those who have brought their life into submission to Christ and are determined to follow that through, whatever the consequences. Of course, we are not yet perfect and continually come to God for forgiveness. Nevertheless, a disciple is radically committed to loving God and loving their neighbour.
Baptism should only be undertaken by those who are wholeheartedly determined to follow Christ, whatever life brings. It is important to be knowledgeable of discipleship and baptism.
What is baptism?
Matthew 3:13-17
Baptism is a public celebration of Christian faith which involves full submersion in water. The water itself, is not in any way special or magical. The act of baptism is not optional for Christian disciples; we must follow the example of the Lord Jesus who identified himself with us by submitting to baptism.
It is easy to underestimate the importance of baptism; in other parts of the world submitting to baptism may cost someone friends, livelihood, family or even life itself.
At Jesus’ baptism we read of his Father’s approval and the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus. At baptism services we rejoice in the assurance that God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is both pleased with the obedience of those being baptised and present to bless and honour them. Sometimes God meets people in a dramatic way in their baptism; more often his Spirit comes gently to powerfully confirm and strengthen the individual’s faith.
Baptism is ‘union with Christ’
Galatians 3:26-28, Romans 5:12-21, 1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Baptism signifies union with Christ. The person is baptised (literally plunged) into Christ (Galatians 3:27). The significance of being in Christ can only be fully understood with reference to the Apostle Paul’s understanding that every human being is born in union with Adam. We were all present in Adam when he sinned, and so we inherited a fallen nature. The first man fell from grace and we all fell in him. Christ came into the world as a second or last version of ‘Adam’.
As we turn to him in repentance by faith we are delivered out of Adam into Christ. ‘For just as through the disobedience of the one man [Adam] the many [all humanity] were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man [Christ] the many [Christians] will be made righteous.’ Baptism then signifies this miraculous transformation from sinful humanity fit for destruction, to righteous humanity being made fit for eternal life.
Baptism brings you into the Church
Galatians 3:26-28, 1 Corinthians 12-13
Baptism signifies identification with both Christ and his body.
Going under the water and rising out of it represents Christ’s death and resurrection (Colossians 2:11-12). We are not only baptised into Christ’s death, we are also baptised into the resurrection life of the church family. We are saved into the community of God’s people who are called to serve together. With our Christian brothers and sisters we are to reach out to a fallen world with the truth and love we have already encountered in Jesus Christ. The idea of a Christian that doesn’t need the Church is nonsense - the whole purpose of salvation is to join with other Christians in worshipping and serving God forever. Baptism signifies this radical commitment to God’s people.
Baptism is a public confession of faith
Romans 10:9, 1 Timothy 6:12
Baptism is also portrayed in the New Testament as a public confession of faith. In Romans 10:9 we read that part of what saves us is our public confession of our faith. Elsewhere he describes baptism as a ‘good confession in the sight of many witnesses’ (1 Timothy 6:12). It is often difficult to find an appropriate way to publicly acknowledge Jesus as Lord. Baptism is a great opportunity to do this.
Baptism is Public Obedience to Christ
Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:1-4
Perhaps the most important aspect of baptism is that of obedience to the command of Christ. Many people feel reluctant to be baptised for many reasons and yet Christ’s command remains. Baptism is a symbolic act of obedience which
demonstrates a person’s death to sin and new life in Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t you baptise babies?
We believe that the significance of baptism is only properly expressed when the person is old enough to demonstrate committed Christian faith. Of course this is not to say that God doesn’t love, accept and welcome children - quite the contrary.
Children are extremely welcome in our church, there is a programme specially designed to teach them about the Christian faith. We hope and pray that they will respond to God from a very early age. However, we think that baptism is best reserved for those who are old enough to be aware of the radical implications of Christian discipleship.
I was baptised as a baby. Should I be baptised again?
For many Christian families the baptism of a baby is highly significant and undertaken with sincerity and prayer. We don’t want to dismiss the value of this. Nevertheless, we would encourage you to consider being baptised as a mature
believer.
Do I have to speak about my faith in front of the whole church before being baptised?
Giving some form of public testimony about your faith is a normal part of a baptismal service. We can help you in this - perhaps by helping you prepare something written which you can read out, or interviewing you in a series of questions and answers.
I’m scared of water. Do I have to be completely submerged?
This is quite a common difficulty. There are a range of possibilities we could explore to enable you to be baptised.
I’m not sure when I became a Christian. Is it important to have a ‘conversion experience’ before I am baptised?
For many people, particularly those brought up in a Christian home, this is common. It might be that you cannot remember a time when you did not love Jesus. Perhaps you asked Him into your life many times and cannot remember a specific time when that felt like a conversion. This could leave you wondering whether you are actually a Christian. This is not an issue.
Baptism is for all those who have repented of sin, accepted the Lordship of Jesus Christ and have made a mature decision to follow him. If that is the point you have reached then you are a Christian whether or not you have had a dramatic conversion experience. Who knows, you may have a dramatic baptism experience!
Church membership is for those who have committed to following Jesus Christ
(usually including total immersion baptism) and who believe God has called them to belong and serve in this church.
Why Church Membership?
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Membership helps build a strong church made up of people who are prepared to commit time, energy, finance, and their spiritual gifts and talents to build up the body of Christ
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Membership shows a sincerity of commitment to Christ and to His people. It is a demonstration of personal commitment as declared in baptism
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Church members are committed to the things of God and therefore are actively involved in church ministries
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Church members are called to prayerfully discern God’s will for their shared life.
Church Meetings
Church meetings make significant appointments, including ministers, and agree financial policy and mission. Final authority does not rest with the ministers, leadership team, or any other local, national, or international body, but with the members’ meeting together under God’s guidance. The membership meets 4 times over the year. A quorum (minimum number of members) must be present to conduct the business
Interested in becoming a member?
We would be delighted to talk to you about membership. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this with a pastor.
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The 58:12 development project was inspired by Isaiah 58:12 - Your people will rebuild ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. 58:12 was established as a registered company and charity in 2003 and has been steadily working towards showing love to this part of Purley and bringing the vision into reality.
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The Vision
Purley Baptist Church's vision to build a new church goes back to the 1990s. In 1997 the church desired not simply to replace its own facilities, but to make provision for the community and to bring about regeneration to the section of Purley town centre which the church is situated in.
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The build programme consists of two phases.
Phase 1: Development of the South Site began in January 2021. Thornsett Group have engaged with Optivo Housing to build 106 affordable homes. PBC welcomed the development of affordable housing and as such has relinquished its freehold and withdrawn from this part of the development.
Phase 2: The development of the Island Site is where PBC is now focusing its efforts.
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The building developer, Thornsett Group was engaged by PBC in 2013, and later unveiled plans for Mosaic Place.
This is comprised of 106 residential units on the South Site and on the Island Site, 114 residential units together with a 3,452 sqm state of the art community and worship centre with retail space. This will be the home of PBC. Planning permission for this challenging development, was finally obtained in July 2020.
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Starting in 2002, PBC raised funds to buy significant properties in proximity to the church. These were consolidated to form two sites.
The Island Site on Banstead Road is where the current church building is situated, next door to the library and then stretching down to the Purley Cross gyratory. The South Site, is on the opposite side of Banstead Road and involved the purchase of two properties and then the owners of adjacent properties deciding to join the project.
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Recent history has seen Purley transferred from Surrey to form part of the London Borough of Croydon.
Situated to the south of the borough, Purley town centre has undergone change, the most significant development being the arrival of Tesco and a new road layout. It has also experienced the high street challenges in common with many similar sized towns. Purley has been fighting to maintain its unique character amidst inevitable change.
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58:12 Company number 04832161 - 58:12 Charity number: 1101446
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10/06/2026