Benjamin was confirmed in his post when Dr. Henderson of Highbury College read a letter of acceptance in March and his public ordination took place on 10 May 1831 in Mount Sion Chapel at 10.30 a.m., the ordination prayer being read by Rev. J. Slatterie of Chatham in the presence of Rev. A. S. Dubourg of Marden, Rev. R. Halley of Highbury College, Rev. John Clayton M.A. and Rev. E. Jenkins of Maidstone. In the evening, the service was led by Rev. J. Stratten of Paddington.

Between the two devotions, a "plain dinner" took place at the prestigious Sussex Hotel (along the famous Pantiles, at no great distance from Little Mount Sion), those attending paying 3/- per head. Two years before, the Duchess of Kent and her daughter Princess (later Queen) Victoria had lunched there and would stay the night there in 1834.

Services were held on Sundays at 11.00 a.m. and 6.30 p.m., prayer meetings on Mondays at 7.00 p.m. and lectures on Wednesdays at 7.00 p.m. The school room was separated from the church by sliding shutters and could seat 50 persons, the church itself seating 400. During the week, it was used by a girls' school (60 girls) belonging to the British and Foreign Schools Society.

A "violent cold" was sweeping through the congregation towards the end of June 1831 and having a marked effect on attendances at the Chapel. Benjamin arranged to take time off at the beginning of August for relaxation including some time by the sea.

Benjamin ran Bible Classes from October 1831 which were both novel for their time and popular and also founded a library for the Sunday School early in 1833. A school was founded on Friday 9 October for illiterate servants (presumably female) and other young women and began with a dozen pupils. The syllabus included principles of simple accounting.

The Rev. SLIGHT was granted, at his own insistence, one month to six weeks holiday each year for 'recreation and visiting friends'. Benjamin wrote to Thomas Wilson on 21 June 1831 concerning the possibility of an annual anniversary in July or August at which a collection could be taken for his benefit. He said:

"It seems desirable that there should be something of the kind - as the expenses of a minister here, who must appear respectable in such a place, are much greater than in most others. And every Minister requires books."

However, some members of the church expressed dissatisfaction with the way in which the church funds were being spent. Benjamin explained, in his defence, that his salary was not fixed and his only income came from pew rents (280 from the chapel's capacity of 450 seatings), visitors donations and surplus money from collections.