There has been a long history of non-Conformity in Colchester. This was enhanced when the Catholic king of Spain persecuted Flemish Protestants in the Spanish controlled Netherlands in the 17th century. These Dutch speakers were invited to England which wanted their skills as wool weavers and many settled in Colchester.
In 1630 the first Baptists arrived in Colchester. At this time the Church of England was supreme and those with other views had to worship underground. In 1690 the Colchester Baptist Church meeting house was first registered in East Stockwell Street.
In 1711 the Baptists moved their church to Eld Lane and established it on part of the present site and in 1834 the current church was built. It has a late Georgian front constructed of gault brick and stucco. Its flank walls are of red brick. It was restored in the late 19th century when a vestry, library and a Sunday school room were also added. It was renovated in 1978 and extended in 1991 to add a building to house the Open Door Charity.
The famous Baptist Charles Spurgeon, founder of the Spurgeon Baptist College worshipped here in from 1850 and preached his first sermon here aged just 16.