Our church celebrates 200 years 

Attleborough Baptist Church (ABC) is excited to be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2025. A small band of people first met in 1819 for Sunday evening prayers at the home of local watch and clockmaker James Dawes - whose Victorian grandfather clocks and pocket watches are still sought after items in antique circles. 

Other men who played key roles include Theophilus Smith, the farmer who - as far as we know - offered the pond in which the earliest baptisms took place. Mr Smith was appointed the first deacon when the church was established in a barn on 25 August 1825. He earned his fame from his inventions of new plough models, and patented 'Smith's Patent Albert Plough' after a meeting with Prince Albert at Windsor Castle where he received the Prince's nod of approval. He wrote two poems, one each to Queen Victoria and the Royal Consort and the Royal couple gifted him a Royal embossed Bible.

With the congregation outgrowing the barn, partly due to the popularity of Joseph Green, a young preacher from Diss, the cash-strapped church found itself in need of a new venue. This is where a third gentleman steps in. William J Norton, the son and heir of wealthy landowner Henry Norton, first built a church in Old Buckenham where Green had previously preached regularly. He then did the same in Attleborough and provided the land and chapel for Attleborough Baptist Church, on the current premises along the Hargham Road. Green was appointed as the first pastor of ABC in 1832.

Dr Norton himself became a pastor, a prolific editor and writer, and one of the founders of the Baptist Tract Society. He also translated the New Testament into Spanish and compiled a selection of 1,113 hymns.

Read more about the history on this page. A booklet containing a more detailed history of the church will be available by the time of the celebratory weekend in mid September. We are inviting families of our early church planters and others involved in its formation and growth over the two centuries to contact us at hello@attleborough.church.