A new Baptist Heritage Centre which brings the story of BMS World Mission to life has opened - just yards from the very first meeting of the organisation more than 200 years ago.

The new centre based at Fuller Baptist Church in Kettering features a mix of original artefacts and exhibition panels used to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Carey at the 2011 UK Baptist Assembly in Blackpool.
The BMS Communications team has been working alongside friends at Fuller Baptist Church since that Assembly to create the new centre. The very first meeting of BMS took place in Kettering on 2 October 1792, just yards from the church.

A capacity audience was present last month for its official opening, where the speaker was BMS general director the Revd David Kerrigan. Chair of Trustees Jeff Taylor was also present.

The formal honours were undertaken by the town's mayor, James Hakewill.

The mayor's chain of office features the town crest, which includes a prominent representation of a slave with broken chains, a direct tribute to the influence of William Knibb, the Kettering-born Baptist missionary to Jamaica known for his work to free slaves. The symbolism of the crest is featured as an element within the exhibition.

BMS director of Communications Mark Craig was delighted with the new facility.

He paid tribute to the team at Fuller BC, who have worked tirelessly to make the new Centre a reality, and said minister the Revd David Milner was one of the key driving forces behind the concept.

He added, 'In 2011, we celebrated the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Carey, whose communion cup and plate are part of the exhibition.

'It's great that we can recycle that exhibition to become a celebration of the world-changing mission work which has originated here in Kettering.'

BMS World Mission is a longstanding EBF mission partner supporting indegenous church planters in several countries in the EBF region.

This story first appeared on The Baptist Times.

Photo: BMS general director the Revd David Kerrigan (right) and chair of Trustees Jeff Taylor flank Kettering mayor James Hakewill at the opening of the Baptist Heritage Centre at Kettering Baptist Church