The Bay Church was founded in 1885 by Mr Charles Haig, who identified from talking to the local community of Minnis Bay that there was a need for a Church of their own in this corner of Birchington. He bought a piece of land adjacent to the Coastguard station, and the Church was built from wood left over from the Exhibition building of Summer on 1885, held to support the Birchington Institute that was involved with youth work, and attract visitors to this area.
The Church was supported by Coastguards and their families, railway workers and their families, and the surrounding area. In the summer Sand Services under the banner of the C.S.S.M. This is now the Scripture Union Beach Mission, which The Bay, along with other Birchington Churches, has been proud to support every year since then, except sadly 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
The Church was founded as an inter-denominational Church, with these words written on the outside wall:
‘All one in Christ Jesus’
The Bay strives to continues this tradition by working with other Churches in Birchington, our sister Church Christchurch in Westgate, and of course welcoming all to our Church.