Southampton Church played a key role in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist movement in the Britain. The initial work of evangelism in Southampton was carried out by William Ings who returned from America in May 1879. Ings, who had local relations, was born in Dorset before emigrating to the United States with his parents. He was later that year joined by John Lougborough an American missionary.

By January 1880, the "Tract and Missionary Society" was established at "Ravenswood", a rented building on 252 Shirley Road. This provided living accommodation for the missionary workers as well as a meeting place. In September 1883, the first Seventh-day Adventist Church in Britain was officially organised at Ravenswood.

Through God’s blessing of public meetings and literature evangelism (colporteur work), the membership of the small group grew rapidly necessitating the purchase of a church building - “The Academy” on 157 Shirley Road where our church remains. This church building was officially opened on 28 September 1895. From this hub, the gospel of Christ was spread to other cities in the British Isles, as depicted by the three angels of Revelation 14.