Long-running care of the building (chapel built 1889–1890) [Leader — to confirm]

The Fabric Team looks after the physical building of Harlesden Baptist Church — the chapel that has stood at the corner of Acton Lane since 26 June 1890. The original building, designed by architect Charles Bell and built by Messrs. John Allen & Sons at a cost of £6,545, was constructed to seat 800 worshippers on a site leased from Colonel Tubbs in 1889 for 999 years.

The building has been through a great deal in 136 years. An underground spring discovered during the construction still flows along the floor of the cellar to this day. In June 1980 an arsonist started a fire in that cellar, causing extensive damage; services had to be held in Unity Hall for nearly a year while the church was repaired, reopening in May 1981. Vandalism in 1979 included the theft of lead from the roofs.

In the modern era the team has overseen, or contributed to overseeing, a long programme of works: refurbishment of the hall, new toilet facilities including a shower room, a ramp for wheelchair access, a complete rewiring of the building, installation of multimedia systems in the main sanctuary and screens downstairs, and ongoing roof maintenance (the roof alone has cost the church over £90,000). The heating system has been overhauled and the baptismal pool — the same pool installed in 1890 with the inscription “Buried with Christ in Baptism” from Romans 6:4 — has been re-tiled and the heating modernised, while the original golden lettering remains exactly as it was carved at the founding.

The 2015 Anniversary Booklet does not contain a dedicated Fabric Team chapter, so the precise current scope, membership and leadership should be confirmed with the team itself.

Sources: [125th] pp. 35, 38, 44 (building works); [Centenary] (founding); [Web History] (arson, repairs, modern works).