In June and July 1977 a ‘Way to Life Crusade’ led by Dick Saunders was held in a huge tent in the grounds of the (then) College of Technology, Avenue de Chartres, Chichester. This inter-denominational evangelistic effort was well supported by many Chichester churches and the Baptist Church took a full part – including night-duty to guard the tent! An interesting side-effect of this Crusade was that a disused shop in West Street was hired for use as an office, and subsequently converted into a Christian Bookshop called ‘The Lion and the Lamb’, and continuing as ‘Chichester Bible Bookshop’ under Mr. David Olby, at one time a deacon of the Baptist Church.

Recording of the Sunday services was commenced at this time and a portable cassette tape recorder was purchased to enable elderly and sick members to listen at home. With many new songs coming into use in the churches, a duplicated supplement called ‘New Praise’ was prepared and this was used for a number of years.

As well as the pattern of worship being under discussion, the structure of leadership became an issue of debate, and in the home groups and at Church Meetings in 1977, the scriptural references to apostles, elders and deacons were studied. Some members believed elders should be appointed as well as deacons, but there was no unanimity on this and it was agreed that “what scripture says about the whole body and the pastoral responsibilities of every member” was of paramount importance. This matter again concerned the Church 10 years afterwards, as later chapters record.

Of great concern to the Church in March 1977 was the health of the Pastor, Alan Burrell, who was off sick for two months. In the following year he was disabled with back pain and for a long time had to preach sitting down, getting about with difficulty. David Reynolds was appointed as Chairman of the Deacons and to act as Chairman of Church Meetings when the Pastor could not be present.Another matter of concern (shared by many Baptist Churches at that time) was an increasing number of baptisms not leading to Church membership. In November 1978 the Church accepted a recommendation of the deacons that membership should be regarded as normal immediately following baptism, irrespective of age.

A succession of upright pianos had been donated to the Church, but in May, 1978 a Collard and Collard Baby Grand was purchased for the increasing use in the worship. In the following year, with the original electronic organ ageing, an organ fund was set up, and by December, 1979 a decision was made to purchase an Allen M.D.C. Classic 20 organ, with two external speakers. At that time the Church had an excellent choir under Ida Pickard, and recordings of the cantatas they sang still give much pleasure.

At the end of 1979 the membership had increased to 139 and there had been 14 baptisms in the year. Two notable events took place in 1980. On 27th and 28th June, a large cast of actors, singers and instrumentalists combined to present Roger Jones’s ‘A Grain of Mustard Seed’. It brought young and old together in a new way and was enjoyed by everybody.

Then in September, in unity with Baptist Churches throughout Sussex, the Church welcomed a team from the United States of America for the ‘Sussex 80 Crusade’. Slides and a tape of the work of the Church were sent to the team in America before their visit, and the programme (over 60 assignments in eight days) was prepared here. Leading the team was Pastor Lewis Garst of Little River Church, Virginia, and his wife Mildred, Mrs. Rickie Harrington, a mother of two children from Richmond, Virginia, Mrs. Janice King, an I.B.M. Punch Operator from Chicago and Tommy Dickens, an electrical contractor, deacon at Mineral Baptist Church, Virginia, and his wife Joy. While they were here they presented the Mayor of Chichester with letters of greeting from civic heads in Illinois and Virginia and an Illinois flag.

The Crusade was a great time of cooperation and enjoyment for the Church and the visiting team, and there were quite a few enquirers, but there was disappointment that there had been no marked influx of people. There had been an increase in the number of prayer groups before the Crusade and at the Church Meeting in the following November it was agreed to continue 10 groups (including a group for young people) and have occasional joint meetings at the church.

Nearly 100 people were attending the house groups at that time.

Also in November, a ‘Bible Ways and Bible Days Exhibition’ was held in the Assembly Rooms in North Street, Chichester. Gladys White and Frieda Westwood were associated nationally with this Exhibition, but other members cooperated in the Chichester event and many people attended.

About that time the Church was concerned about support for those desiring to train for the ministry or missionary work and this led to the establishment of a ‘Student Support Fund’ (see Appendix 6).Some amendments to the Rules concerning the Diaconate were made in 1980, Alan Smith succeeded David Rippon as Captain of the Boys’ Brigade and a little later Elaine Watkins became temporary Captain of the Girls’ Brigade in place of Cilla Wood, followed in 1982 by Audrey Cutts.

In 1981 it was decided to produce ‘The Chronicler’ by a reprographic process and from September to change its name to ‘Contact’. It had been typed and duplicated ‘in house’ since its commencement in 1959 and circulation had grown to 2000 copies.

The membership continued to grow and reached 150 by the end of 1981, though the number of children under 14 had dropped to just below 100 for the first time for several years. In November, 1981, Winnie Hawkins was appointed as Missionary Secretary, an office in which she has been an outstanding advocate of missionary work of all kinds, but specially of the Baptist Missionary Society.In 1982 a number of new developments took place. A Maintenance Committee was formed to look after the church and manse buildings and grounds; a band was formed and the Church bought some wind instruments; the commencement of a Luncheon Club was approved; there was a Computer Club under the leadership of David Goodey; the vestibule was remodelled and the kitchen floor relaid; a Youth Council was in operation; and services were still being held at Graylingwell and the Royal West Sussex Hospitals.

It is interesting that the Church reverted to the use of a ‘common loaf’ at the communion table in that year, though preferring to continue with individual communion cups.

The Church continued to be very concerned about the Pastor’s health. There were doubts whether he would be able to continue his work as a minister and much prayer was made for him.

In March 1983, the Pastor told the Church he felt the time had come for him to leave Chichester, and his doctor had advised him to seek a change. Miraculously – for it was the Lord’s direct work rather than the many kinds of medical treatment he had received – his back improved and before he left he was almost completely mobile again. He received a call to Newcastle-under-Lyne and completed his ministry here on 22nd April, 1984, the Church providing him with a ‘sabbatical’ before he took up his new post.

There were 89 baptisms during Alan Burrell’s Pastorate, the membership had risen by 50% and the number attending house groups had increased from 40 to 100. Also during his pastorate it became the custom for one of the deacons in turn to share with the Pastor in baptising.Before Alan left, the Church experienced another ‘high’. Following the success of ‘A Grain of Mustard Seed’ it was decided to put on another of Roger Jones’s musicals, this time ‘Saints Alive’, and it proved to be an outstanding event. So successful were the two performances at the church on 20th and 21st May, that repeat performances were requested at Bishop Luffa School, East Wittering Parish Church and Bognor Regis Baptist Church. Those who took part will not easily forget the thrill of this presentation of the Pentecost story – the experience was much more than a musical or a play; it was an experience of the Spirit.

Of course, all the other activities of the Church continued and in addition a float was again entered in the Chichester Gala, a Holiday Club was held for 41 children, a party went to the Centenary gathering of the Boys’ Brigade in Scotland – and a donation of £400 was made towards St. Anthony’s School minibus, in return for which the Church was able to use it for special outings.

Mention must be made of the retirement in January 1984 of Mr. Fred S. Fry, who had been a deacon for 33 years since the formation of the Church and Treasurer for 18 years. The Church presented him with a photographic souvenir album, signed by the members and when he died, on 19th June, 1986, this was given back to the Church and is a valuable pictorial archive. Mr. Ronald Horsey was appointed as Treasurer in succession to Mr. Fry.