on the west side of the road to Worthing, and a chapel was built between 1720 and 1721. The trust document required the land to be used for "Anabaptists ... maintaining the faith of General Redemption and the faith and practice of Believers' Baptism, and for such only". By this time, Caffyn had died and his son, also named Matthew, had succeeded him as a preacher in Horsham. The founders, John Dendy and John Greeve, paid (£ as of ) for the land, and were responsible for building the cottage-like chapel and laying out the garden around it. There were known to be 18 Baptist families in Horsham in 1724, but in the chapel's early years about 350 worshippers typically attended: the building served as a central meeting place for congregations and individual people across a large area. In particular, many travelled in from the village of Billingshurst. This group became large enough to split from the Horsham congregation and form a new church in Billingshurst in 1754. It was still linked to the Horsham cause until about 1818, when it declared its independence following a disagreement. As Billingshurst Unitarian Chapel, it remains in use as a place of worship. Soon after the chapel opened, General Baptists formed the largest group of Nonconformists in Horsham—overtaking the Quakers, who were in decline, and Presbyterians. Other Nonconformist groups in Horsham in the 18th and 19th centuries included Strict Baptists, Independent Baptists, Plymouth Brethren, Congregationalists, Methodists and Latter-day Saints. Horsham General Baptist Chapel was extended in 1727 with the addition of an entrance porch. The original rostrum was replaced with a conventional pulpit in 1752, and in 1772 the building was extended at the south end to accommodate a second vestry and an internal baptistery. Until this, worshippers were taken to the mill pond at nearby Broadbridge Heath to be baptised. The garden was by now used for burials, and it was extended in 1816. Later in the 19th century, more changes were made inside, the porch was rebuilt, pews were installed and one of the original galleries was removed. The most active period of reordering was between 1867 and 1872. The 19th century was also characterised by pastoral and community work: a school was established in the chapel, although it later moved to a private house; in 1839, the incumbent minister started an educational academy in a building in Albion Terrace, which