Brick Lane Baptist Church, Kingston upon Thames

[chelsen]

Some of my Parslow ancestors were baptised in the Brick Lane Baptist Church, Kingston upon Thames.  Although I live in this area I cannot find any reference to Brick Lane on the old maps I have found online.

Does anyone know where Brick Lane Baptist Church or Brick Lane was in Kingston?

I would be grateful if anyone could help.

[t mo]

I,m like you just tried to find a brick lane in Kingston , in british history site they speak of 4 Baptist chapels but none in brick lane .
have a look here www.kingstonuponthamessociety.co.uk/history.php  contact them they may be able to help you .
regards
trevor

[student]

Known until 1834 as Back Lane, it then became Brick Lane. 

After much campaigning by the Baptist members, Brick Lane then had another name change about 1865 to Union Street....running from the Memorial Gardens to Eden Street.

There is an small, but interesting section about this in The Kingston Book by June Sampson.

[chelsen]

Thank you Student and T Mo.

I will look at the link and I know Union Street well.  I am going next week with my camera to try to photograph all the places relevant to my Parslow Ancestors.  Unfortunately a lot of them no longer exist, but some do.
Regards
Carole

[student]

I didn't make clear the location of the church. It is about halfway along Union Street next to the small building which used to be the town mortuary (next to the Memorial Gardens).

(The United Reform Church on the corner of Eden Street and Union Street was originally a Congregational Church and was set up by a group who broke away from the Brick Lane Baptists.)

I hope you are successful on your photographic expedition.  I have a small collection of books about Old Kingston so if I can help in any way just let me know.

[chelsen]

Thank you.  I think I know the building you mean. 

Yes, my direct ancestors, Thomas and Mary Parslow ( 3 x Gt Grandparents) and all his children including my 2 x Gt GF, William Parslow, were in fact members of the Heathen Street Independent Chapel which I am led to believe was on the site of the United Reform Church and is different from Brick Lane Baptist Church.  I was in touch with the archivist of the UR Church and he confirmed that the Heathen Street I.C. was originally on that site.  Apparently one branch of the family continued to worship there after it became the Congregational Church and then the URC and one, Albert Jack Parslow, who was killed in WW1 is named on a memorial inside the church.

A lot of the buildings I would like to have photographed have been demolished over the years and new roads driven through.  Also, the census returns often don't say which house number each family lived at. 

I will certainly get back to you if I cannot locate any other streets.

Thank you.

Carole