Although we lack precise records, it is believed that the Chatham congregation was in existence by 1655. The Church was first granted a lease for our site in 1703, whilst a trust deed dated 1801 refers to a building as having already been used as a place of worship "for many years".

We can distinguish, at that time, between the General Baptists (who believed that salvation was avaliable to all) and the Particular Baptists (who believed that salvation was reserved for the elect). Our church was established as a place of worship by the General Baptists.

Samuel Neal is known to have been the Church's Elder in the years up to 1795, at which point his assistant Thomas Hobbs succeeded him. Hobbs later resigned, however, as a result of theological differences between himself and the congregation. By this time, the church was becoming increasingly radical in its theological stance.

In 1802, the old meeting house was demolished and a new building was erected, now referred to as the 'Unitarian Baptist' chapel. This building was opened by two Unitarian ministers, Sampson Kingsford and William Vidler. The Rev Vidler was both a prominent Unitarian and a prominent advocate of universalism (the belief that all souls would be saved).

The Church was rebuilt once more in 1889, the work being paid for this time by two sisters in memory of their parents, John and Selina Tribe (a brass memorial plate to the couple can be seen inside the Hall). Immediately following the Church's reopening, the Rev H. Ierson (a visiting minister) is reported to have

"recommended the congregation to keep themselves well 'in evidence' before the people of Chatham ; and while they asserted their Unitarianism, to make the term synonymous with all that is good."

The Rev Will Hayes was our minister from 1929-44 and again from 1948-9. An advocate of inter-faith co-operation, the Rev Hayes became the leader of the Free Religious Movement which sought to create 'a Brotherhood of Nations through the Sisterhood of Religions'.The Rev Hayes also founded the Order of the Great Companions, which he hoped would encourage the emergence of an eclectic and universal world religion. Until fairly recently, Chatham Unitarian Church was known as the 'Church of the Great Companions' - the 'Great Companions' being the various prophets and religious leaders of all cultures, creeds and races.

Mindful of the heritage which the Rev Hayes and others have bequeathed to us, in 2002 the Church formally adopted a Constitution which declares that

"The Congregation is a voluntary association of people who wish to join together in the free worship and exploration of God in a spirit of reason and under the guidance of the teachings of Jesus, and of others of all ages and countries with spiritual insight."

Works consulted:
- Cryssides, George ed., Unitarian Perspectives on Contemporary Religious Thought, Lindsey Press, 1999
- Hill, Andrew A liberal Religious Heritage
- Packer, Brian A, The Unitarian Heritage in Kent, LDPA, 1991
- Chatham: Re-opening Celebration, The Inquirer, Feb 23 1889