[4] Efforts from 1868 by a student pastor Frederick Brotherton Meyer started to gain traction*, and in 1869 he wrote to the Charles Spurgeon, then President of the London Baptist Association asking for his help to establish something more permanent.

Subsequent works have included a cafe area, meeting rooms and offices in 2010 [8] followed by a major renovation of the auditorium completed in 2022.

[17][18][19] Sir Eric Richardson (died 2006) was a long-time member and deacon at Duke Street, being appointed CBE in 1962 and knighted for his work in higher education in 1968.

He was an exponent of polytechnic education who headed three institutions that have developed into universities – Salford, City and Westminster, and was a leader of 20th-century evangelical Christianity.

"When my father was moderator of Duke Street Baptist Church situated in Richmond, south west London, very close to the River Thames.

Duke Street, for many years a very strong and staunchly evangelical church, had lost its previous minister in the unhappiest of circumstances.