'From Memorials of Liverpool.'

St. Stephens Church, fronting Byrom Street.

From Memorials of Liverpool....second edition, revised, with additions.

Near the bottom of William Brown Street, fronting Byrom Street, formerly stood the quaint-looking little Church of St. Stephen. It was erected in 1722, as a Baptist Chapel, being the first and for a long time the only place of worship of the denomination in Liverpool. The original source of the Baptist churches in this part of the country was a small chapel at Hill Cliffe, a wooded height near Warrington. About A.D. 1700 Baptist services were commenced at the house of Dr. Daniel Fabius, who lived at the corner of Brunswick Road and Everton Road. After the cause had increased, the building in Byrom Street was erected. In 1772 the Rev. Samuel Medley became the pastor of this church. He was in every way an original character. He had been in early life a midshipman and master's mate in the Royal Navy, and was severely wounded whilst serving on board "Intrepid," 74, in the action off Cape Lagos, in 1759. He afterwards taught a school, and at length entered the ministry amongst the Baptists in 1766. In 1772 he entered upon his pastoral duties in Liverpool, and soon becam exceedingly popular.He bestowed great attention on the seamen frequenting the port; and from having been one of themselves, was able to find the way to their hearts by those touches of nature which "make the whole world kin." In 1773 the chapel was enlarged; but from the popularity of the pastor, a still further expansion became neceassry, and a much larger and more commodious building was erected a few undred yards to the north, at the bottom of Gerard Street, which was opened in 1789. The old chapel was soon after sold for a church connected with the Establishment, and consecrated in 1792. The projected widening of Byrom Street led to the purchase of the old church and the erection of a new building in sunstitution in the same street, a little distance to the northward, in 1871.
The new Byrom Street Chapel continued for many years the chief seat of the Baptist denomination in Liverpool; but in 1836 a rupture took place, soon after the appointment of the Rev. C.M. Birrell to the pastorate. The church had up to this period adopted what is called the close communion principle, which restricts the administration of the Lord's Supper to those who have been baptised by immersion on a profession of faith. An attempt to throw open the communion was defeated, and the dissidents withdrew, and after a time erected the handsome building at the junction of Crown and West Derby Streets, of which Mr. Birrell was long the incumbent. The Byrom Street Chapel continued to be occupied with greatly decreased numbers. About 1850 it was purchased by the London and North-Western Railway, in consequence of the Victoria Tunnel having to be constructed underneath. After the tunnel was completed it was purchased by Mr. John Johnson, in the hands of whose representatives it still continues, and is used for benevolent and religious purposes.

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