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History of our Church

     
        Church front as it is today

Charnwood Road Baptist Church has an interesting history and the following mentions some of the milestones in that history. The church was founded in 1693 in Shepshed and now in 2007 will be 314 years old. It has been at its present location in Charnwood Road since 7th May 1834 when the new chapel building was opened. We celebrate our Church Anniversary on the 2nd Sunday in May.

The county contains only three other Baptist churches that are older than the Charnwood­ Road church – Sutton-in-the-Elms, founded in 1650; Friar Lane, Leicester, 1665; and Arnsby, 1667.  

  
Views of the old meeting house & graveyard in Chapel Street

There were Baptists in the Shepshed and Rempstone areas and in 1693 they joined together and for a time the community met for worship in the front parlour of one of the members, Mr Harris, in Antills Lane which became known as Meeting Lane. In 1705 there were 160 conformists and 50 dissenters and 200 families in village. The first Baptist Chapel was built in 1717 and there was a graveyard and a minister's house.

The present chapel as it was first built without the towers

 In October, 1832, during the pastorate of Rev. Joseph Bromwich, who held the position for 44 years, attention was called to the dilapidated, condition of the Meeting House. As it was considered useless to attempt any repairs, it was resolved to build a new place of worship on the chapel property, situated in what was known as Charley Way, now Charnwood Road.

 The photo above shows the chapel before the towers were built.

 

This chapel was opened on
7th May 1834. Towards the total cost of £630, no less than £240 was raised in Shepshed alone.  At first, trouble arose through the introduction of musical instruments, but subsequently the prejudice died down and a choir was formed.

                                         
From the Bull Ring showing the towers

Rev. T. Rhys Evans, of Countesthorpe, took over the pastorate in 1871, and remained until 1890. Three years after he came, in 1874, a new baptistry was erected in the chapel, the custom hitherto being to use the village brook for baptisms and flood gates were used to dam it for the administration of the rite. The brook still runs at the bottom of the chapel yard. The baptistry is situated in the centre of the platform under the pulpit.

 
In 1866 an organ was obtained for public worship. In 1877 galleries were erected in the chapel at a cost of upwards of £450, the greater part of which was raised before the re-opening services. A few years on, the ground adjoining the chapel, was purchased at a cost of about £400.

Showing the organ, galleries and choir pews

Rev. E. M. Andrews succeeded as pastor of the church in 1890 and in 1893 the Bi-centenary of the church was celebrated. In the meantime considerable alterations and improvements were made in the interior of the chapel.

Rev H. H. Thompson was pastor from 1898 - 1907 when he removed to Darlington in 1907. Unfortunately we do not have much information about his pastorate here.

It should be stated that during the previous ten years new schoolrooms had been put up at a cost of £1,000. The work, by  Messrs Atkin Bros. and Mr. G. W. Blood, was carried out in a satisfactory manner. The total amount actually received towards the work prior to the re-opening services, came to £462 16s. 6d. 

                                 The Upper hall as seen from Kirk Hill

The Rev. A. E. Pope undertook the charge some six months later in 1908. For a considerable time the question of removing the old straight back seats in the chapel and replacing them with some of a modern type had been considered, and the scheme was taken up in real earnest. 

   
   Coronation celebrations King George V 
 
  

275th Anniversary
of the church

        In the Manse Garden - when??

Ladies Outing - when??

but we do have some of the names of the folk on the photo! If you know any of the names we haven't got please contact us. 

IN THE COACH (left to right)
Mrs Swain, Gwenda Swain, Elsie Briers, Mrs Davie, Mrs Atkin, -?-, Olive Hillier, Mrs Davie, Mrs Briers, Mrs G E Peat

OUTSIDE THE COACH (left to right)
Harry Potter, Ann Hillier, Mrs Rose, Lizzie Thurman, Mrs Danvers, Mrs Jordan, Mrs Green & -?- (daughters of Mrs Jordan), Mrs Belcher, -?-, Granville Lester, Mrs Lester, Mrs Berrisford

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Friday 20 June 2008