The Norwood Baptist church was founded through the work of Silas Mead, the 'Baptist bishop' in 1867. Services were first held in the Norwood Town Hall, until 1870 when a building designed by James Cumming, and large enough to seat 500, was opened on The Parade at Norwood. These were the days of booming suburban congregations. The 'holiness movement' of the mid-19th century stated that the Holy Spirit was poured out for everyone - regardless of gender, class or race. This led to the rise of women preachers in the 1860s and paved the way for women to take more active roles in the church. It was recognised that women would respond to other women, and saw a movement for social groups and classes specifically arranged for them.