By 1824 at the time of his marriage to Ann Siggers (1800–1882) he was living in South London, at 8 Gravel Lane Southwark, working as a hat block turner (lathe worker).

Bridges remained a hat block maker for over 50 years; it was a trade that required considerable woodworking skills, perhaps learnt from his father.

In 1837 Bridges witnessed the fiery ex-Anglican Robert Aitken preaching at White's Row Chapel in Shoreditch which proved to be a crucial turning point in his life.

[5] Banyard and Bridges believed in faith healing and strictly forbade the use of doctors; this would later lead to trials and imprisonment for some members of their congregation when they came into conflict with the authorities.

At the inquest (which was held at the Crown Tavern on Blackfriars Road) a local church elder was called to give evidence; it is entirely possible the man who stated that "physic (medicine) killed a great many people" was Bridges himself.

[7][8] In his book Forgotten Thameside (1951), Glyn H. Morgan asserts that the "alternative and now seldom heard name Plumstead Peculiars" was due to its "place of origin".

She worked briefly with the Plumstead Peculiars but fell out with the sect owing to her claims of divinity; she believed she was Jesus Christ, and her followers could become immortal.