Rev Ernest Baker (Part 3)

The Rev Ernest Baker.

For three years he served as the Baptist Union secretary and latterly for two more with Mr. Garratt. He was three times its President, in 1901, 1909 and 1927, and three times preached the Union Sermon. Until he withdrew because of ill health he was a leading member of the Executive of the Union, and his opinion carried great weight, for his knowledge of the churches made him wise in counsel. He was as ready with his pen as with his voice. Three years after his arrival he started the S.A. Baptistas as its first editor. He conducted a monthly brochure for the Cape Town Church called ‘Marching Orders’, and maintained for some years The Midnight Cry with its Advent testimony. He compiled a number of books from his sermons such as The Return of the Lord, Plain Talks, and The Prophetic Lamp. In his Life and Explorations of F.S. Arnot he achieved a considerable success in biography.

Ernest Baker has been a great gift of God to the Baptist Church and the cause for religion in South Africa. Indeed a workman that needed not to be ashamed.

Compiled by: Syd Hudson-Reed

Rev Ernest Baker (Part 2)



The Baptist Church on Cape Road, Port Elizabeth.

On Easter Sunday 1914 he began a memorable ministry in Johannesburg, and was quickly recognised as a preacher of uncommon earnestness and expository power. He ever delighted to bring forth treasures new and old from Holy Writ, which was his unquestioned authority in all truth.

In 1920 he led his church to build a more spacious place of worship, which he named Centenary Hall to commemorate the 1820 Settlers, among whom were a party of Baptists, and who commenced the Baptist witness in South Africa.

In 1929 he settled at Port Elizabeth, and in the next year led a large part of his congregation to establish a new church at Cape Road, and soon a new place of worship was built. There he remained until 1935, when he returned to Cape Town as co-pastor with the Rev. C. Garratt. In 1937 he became pastor and remained with the Rev. E. B. Edwards as assistant till illness forced his retirement in September 1938.

Ernest Baker was a man of vivacious temperament, alert mind, retentive memory, clear grasp and great driving force, which made him a natural leader. The strength of his convictions made him an unceasing advocate of the doctrines of grace, and of the Second Advent. But however much he might differ from the views of others, he maintained a most brotherly spirit toward them. His long ministry at the Port of entry gave him the first contact with many of his ministerial brethren, and so started friendships which were terminated only by death. He became the most trusted man in the denomination and was specially appointed as Confidential Advisor to both ministers and churches.

Compiled by: Syd Hudson-Reed

Rev Ernest Baker (Part 1)



The Rev Ernest Baker.

The Rev Ernest Baker was born at Hailsham, Sussex in 1869 and died at Cape Town on 21 January 1939. He was one of the last students sent to South Africa by the great Charles Spurgeon in August of 1891 and he manifested to a marked degree the influence of that great preacher in the fervency and power of his preaching as well as in the whole character of his 47 year ministry.

His wide reading among the books of his father’s shop, coupled with his early work as a newspaper reporter, developed an extensive knowledge, and great fluency of expression in forceful Anglo-Saxon. His readiness in extempore speech became a great instrument for the enforcement of the strong convictions he held, and the proclamation of the gospel, for which he never lost his enthusiasm.

After two years’ ministry at Wynberg his reputation as a preacher was so well established that he was called to the city church in Cape Town. There he laboured with conspicuous success for 21 years, and the church became the home of a rich spiritual life. The crowds he drew to the Alhambra Theatre gave him a great influence in evangelical work in the Peninsula. He led the church to undertake a mission work in some of the needy districts of the city. A mission station was started and staffed for some years amongst the Bantus in Glen Grey, till it was handed over to the Missionary Society.

Compiled by: Syd Hudson-Reed