Founded in 1817 by members of the congregation of an older Baptist chapel in the ancient town, it was extended several times in the 19th century as attendances grew during Hastings' period of rapid growth as a seaside resort.

Its position—a sheltered natural harbour near fertile fishing grounds in the English Channel, surrounded by forests and marshes—allowed an autonomous settlement to develop from about the 8th century.

The town was large and important enough to have a mint by 928; and a century later its most famous event, the Battle of Hastings, brought it to wider attention.

In 1801, these were still the only two churches in the Old Town;[2] but in about 1809, Protestant Nonconformism—prevalent throughout Sussex since the 17th century—[5] made its first appearance in the form of a small chapel on Tackleway, behind the beach at Rock-a-Nore.

The minister David Fermer stated on the census return that "the number of persons who attend Ebenezer Church amount to about 300, but seldom all meet at one service".

[19] The cause survives, though: a former Plymouth Brethren meeting room[20] in the Silverhill suburb of Hastings was acquired and is now a Gospel Standard Strict Baptist chapel, again named Ebenezer.

[21][22] Ebenezer Particular Baptist Chapel was listed at Grade II by English Heritage on 19 January 1951;[23] this defines it as a "nationally important" building of "special interest".