(This chapter appears in the second edition of the book)

During this period it was decided to produce a weekly Newsheet, largely to eliminate long lists of notices in the church services. This involved more work for the Secretary and the office administration but has proved to be a helpful innovation. The appointment of a Minute Secretary for Deacons’ and Church Meetings was ably undertaken by Mrs. Christine Earwaker under the leadership of Ian White, with membership continuing to increase, the development of ‘Alpha’ courses, the special demands of ‘First Sunday’ and the discussions about extensions, consideration was given to the appointment of an Associate Minister. The title ‘Associate’ was deliberately chosen because, in addition to responsibility for specific areas of the work – the overseeing of youth activities and the implementation of gifts – it was desired that the person appointed should be able and authorised to undertake any part of the work.

After a number of applicants were interviewed, the Church almost unanimously approved the appointment of the Rev. Kenneth L. Benjamin, who in addition to a Honours BA Degree in Economics and in Theology and a Diploma in Pastoral Care, also had educational qualifications and experience in commerce, training and management.

Ken was ordained and commissioned at Chichester on 12th October 1996.

With the appointment of a second minister, changes in the Secretary’s duties and rapid development of computerised working, it was agreed to appoint part time a paid office administrator to develop the work so ably fulfilled in a voluntary capacity by Pam King for a number of years. Mrs. Christine Price was appointed to this new post and much of the more routine work of the minister’s and secretary was excellently facilitated in the small amount of office space available. In addition to an updated computer, a more powerful overhead projector, a more modern photocopier and an improved telephone system were installed.

All aspects of the youth work were reviewed under Ken’s chairmanship and a course entitled ‘What me?’ was instituted by him as an aid to discovery of members’ gifts, talents and abilities.

A Pastoral Care Group consisting of three deacons and the minister’s wife, was formed to endeavour to make sure that new people were welcomed and followed up and that every member of the church and congregation should have at least one other as a contact in the church.

A Mission Support Group under the chairmanship of David Reynolds, was formed to keep before the church the needs of home and overseas mission and a ‘mission spot’ was provided in the morning worship every second Sunday in the month, when offerings were also for mission.

The Chatterbox Parents and Toddlers Group thrived and on alternate weeks a new group of young women called “The Word for Women” commenced to meet on Wednesday mornings for Bible Study and prayer.

The Home Groups and other small groups continued to be the backbone of the prayer, study and fellowship of the church and by 2001 there were over 150 attending these. A ministry mainly of song to elderly and home-bound people was provided by groups from the church at Farr’s Field (later Lea Holme), Summertons at Bosham, The Heritage and The Maltings.

The finance team was strengthened by the appointment of one of the deacons, Dennis Mason, to assist with the counting of offerings, though by now many members were giving through bankers’ orders.

Throughout this period a Maintenance Committee first under the chairmanship of John Daws, and later David Wakeford, kept a watchful eye on the premises and grounds, undertaking many items of repair, decorating and improvements themselves and overseeing the installation of a central heating system to replace old overhead electric heaters, and re-furbishing of the kitchen.

The church was challenged by a group of young folk seemingly intent on creating a disturbance on Sunday evenings. By creating a meeting place in the ‘Portakabin’ at 8pm confidence has gradually been built up with the group – hence the title ‘Cabin8’.

In November 1999, Ian White informed the deacons that he had accepted a call to Victoria Baptist Church, Eastbourne and it was subsequently agreed that his last day at Chichester would be 5th March, 2000. Every part of the work of the church had moved forward under Ian’s leadership and the members were sad to lose him, well aware that his departure would create a vacuum that it would be hard to fill. Initially, it was assumed that a new minister should be sought from outside the church, but there was a growing conviction that Ken Benjamin should be considered for this. As a result, the deacons ‘interviewed’ Ken as rigorously as they would any other candidate and it was agreed to propose him as the new minister of the church. At a remarkable Special Church Meeting on 16th February 2000 at which 119 members were present, a majority of 96% voted to call Ken as the next minister of the church. He was commissioned on 16th July 2000, David Taylor, General Superintendent of the Baptist Union for the South-Eastern Area, officiating.

This change meant that a successor to Ken Benjamin needed to be sought as Associate Minister and it was agreed both to advertise in appropriate Christian press and to seek names through the Baptist Union Superintendents.

On 13th September, 2000 a further Special Church Meeting approved a recommendation of the deacons that Keith Gordon Wilson be appointed as Associate Minister. Keith, a member of Perth Baptist Church, had obtained an M. A.(Hons) degree in Geography and Modern History at St Andrews University and a PGCE in Secondary School education at Strathclyde University, Glasgow. This was followed by a B.D. Degree at the Scottish Baptist College, Glasgow and taught at a secondary school for two years. Keith was ordained at Perth and commissioned at Chichester on 11th November, 2000.Throughout these five years many discussions took place, first in a Building committee among the deacons and church members and then with architects and other professionals culminating in planning approval by Chichester District Council for the extension of the premises. A fuller description of the proposals and progress as at mid-year, 2001 – the actual 50th anniversary of the formation of the church being 13th September – is given in Appendix 6.

In March 1999, in a unique link with the past of both the Chapel and the city, Ian White was invited by the City Council to preside over the re-burial of the remains of seven Chichester men and women, including a former mayor, found beneath Eastgate Hall (the former General Baptist Chapel). There were also over 20 memorial tablets. Operating under a special licence signed by the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, the bodies were transferred (some from ornate and other coffins) to new coffins before being placed in a communal grave at Portfield Cemetery, Chichester, and every attempt was made with considerable success to contact relatives for the funeral service. Among those identified were John Drinkwater, a surgeon and pastor of Eastgate Chapel, (see chapter 5 and 6), Joseph Randall (pages 9 and 10) and four members of the Dearling family, including John (see chapters 5 and 6) and the Chichester Observer of 11th March, 1999 pictured 15 year old Sarah Dearling looking at the list of Mayors of Chichester, including her ancestor who held that office in 1782. Descendants of the Osborne and Furlonger families could not be traced.¹⁶ The Chichester Observer reported “The Rev. Dr. Ian White, who conducted the ceremony, said ‘I have never done a service like this before and I don’t think I ever will again’.”

In attempting to summarise the years 1995 to 2001 it would be true to say that equal emphasis has been placed on “the Word” and “the Spirit”, Paul Fiddes says.¹⁷

The following information was added by Bernard Veasey in 2013.

The burial plots where the seven people moved from Eastgate Hall and were re-buried on 5 March 1999 at Portfield Cemetery are plot numbers 35, 36 and 37 in square number 213 and are owned by Chichester City Council. The grant number is 7840.

The people believed to be buried at Portfield Cemetery are:

These people are also mentioned on the headstone:
William Dearling, 1767-1830, 63 yrs
Members of the Furlonger Family
Members of the Osborne Family

¹⁶Chichester Observer – 11th March 1999
¹⁷Paul Fiddes, “Participating in God”