Zion Baptist church
To celebrate the Centenary of Zion in January 1870, a presentation was made to the Church of beautiful Communion service engraved:
'In commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the formation of the Baptist Church, Colne. Presented by Robt. and Anna Shaw - December 1869'.
The cup from this communion service was re-possesed by the shaw family when the Church changed to individual communion glasses and is now in the possession of Mrs Henry Nelson. An entry in the Treasury Accounts states
'July 2nd 1947, a £25 donation (mr A.Shaw - Communion Cup). Three years before the Centenary, in October 1886, according to the Chapel Trust Deeds : The plot on which the chapel now stands was purchased by 14 Trustees on the 19th October 1866 all of whom I think are now dead and such plot was purchased subject to a perpetual rent charge of £12.6s.11d. per annum and on the 19th July 1867 a deed was executed and duly enrolled, whereby these trustees set out the trusts on which they would hold the said plot, one of which was to permit the premises to be used as aplace of public Religeous Worship by the society of protestants called particular or calvanistic Baptists then meeting for divine worship there in. Three years after the centenary celebrations, in July 1872, a discussion took place about acquiring the land at the west end for a new Baptist Chapel, and male members were to constitute a committee to meet on the 29th july of that year. Nothing materialised until1874 when Robert Shaw, Wm, Sagar and Wm. Varley were appointed to enquire and report.
In 1876 the decision to erect a new chapel and school was made, providing 'the necessary funds are forthcoming'.
The Committee :
Robt Shaw, Wm. Varley, Henry Ingham, Thos. Stout, Wm. Sagar, John Sagar, J.e Croft, James Crabtree,
Wm. Crabtree, Peter Smith, Wm. Bateman, Henry Cocks and Richard Elliott.
They met on November 13th 1887 to discuss raising funds and there transpired the following resolution :
1, They would have two years to raise the money.
2, Every friend and member to be circulated asking them to state what they would give and as a beginning,
Wm Sagar offered £100, Wm. Bateman offered £100, J.E.Croft offered £50, Thos. Vipond offered £20 and Robert Shaw
offered 1/3rd of the whole cost.
The money subscribed was borrowed by the trustees at arate of 5% per annum to enable them to buy the houses 9, 11 and 13 Keighley Road which had come onto the market on the death of Thomas Shaw. The circular read as follows :
Dear Friend, you are probably aware that the church and congregation have been contemplating the erection of a new chapel and school. At the meeting of church some time ago, it was decided that achapel and school should be built and that additional land be obtained behind our present school, and this resolution the building committee has carried into effect. Also at a special meeting of the church it was resolved to purchase the adjoining property from the executors of the late Thomas Shaw. Arrangements have been made for its transfer to the trustees, and it is expected that the rents from this property will more than meet the ground rent of the whole.
It may be stated that for the prosecution of this object, some funds have been already collected, from various sources, amounting to about £580 of which sum, the principal portion has been raised by the ladies of the congregation whose industr and zeal are worthy of the warmest thanks.
At a general meeting of the church held on the 13th November, 1887, and called by the building committee to consider the desireability of proceeding with the work of erecting the proposed chapel and school, it was agreed unanimously to raise sufficient means for commencing the undertaking and that a circullar be prepared and sent to every member of the church and congregation. To carry out these resolutions the committee has met and new sends you this circular appeal asking you kindly to contribute to the proposed object. It is considered that no less a sum than £9.000 will be needed to meet our requirements, and to realise this sum, it will be necessary that each of us should contribute to the utmost of his ability.
To reeive the regular contributions during a 2 year period that one quarter of the sum kindly promised should be given on or before the 31st december. You will greatly aid the work of the committee by filling up the enclosed form and returning it to the secretary,Mr. H. Ingham, before the end of the year.
A generous member of the church has encouragged us to zeal and liberality by offering one third of the entire cost of the buildings. Liberal offers have also been made by others and it is our earnest hope that the response to this appeal may by God's blessing issue us complete success.
Signed by order of the committee James Bury Chairman, Wm.Bateman Treasurer, Hy. Ingham Secretary.
Before all these plans materialised, Mr Bury resigned in unhappy circumstances, having accused the deacons in a letter with illegally and wrongfully asking him to do so, and in 1879, a Mr Parker was invited from spurgeon's college for a trial as a pastor. He was accepted and commenced his ministry in April 1880, and later that year it was decided that there 'be female as well as male' visitors. Up to this time, affairs have been very much male dominated in every sphere of activity with the exception of catering and organising church Bazzars, but we must remember that women did not get the vote until 1918, and then it was only for 30 plus. Plans were now underway for the demolitions of the old church, and in April 1881 it was resolved to invite as many non-church goers as possible to attend the closing service.
The last Baptism was performed in the old chapel on March 26th 1882, when mary Ellen Foulds, M.A Sagar, S.A.Ingham, Julie Smith, ALice Lee, Harriet Hartley and Joseph Stuttard passed through the waters of Baptism and were received into the |Chapel fellowship on Sunday April 2nd, which was the last Lord's Ordinance Service to be held before demolition.
'In commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the formation of the Baptist Church, Colne. Presented by Robt. and Anna Shaw - December 1869'.
The cup from this communion service was re-possesed by the shaw family when the Church changed to individual communion glasses and is now in the possession of Mrs Henry Nelson. An entry in the Treasury Accounts states
'July 2nd 1947, a £25 donation (mr A.Shaw - Communion Cup). Three years before the Centenary, in October 1886, according to the Chapel Trust Deeds : The plot on which the chapel now stands was purchased by 14 Trustees on the 19th October 1866 all of whom I think are now dead and such plot was purchased subject to a perpetual rent charge of £12.6s.11d. per annum and on the 19th July 1867 a deed was executed and duly enrolled, whereby these trustees set out the trusts on which they would hold the said plot, one of which was to permit the premises to be used as aplace of public Religeous Worship by the society of protestants called particular or calvanistic Baptists then meeting for divine worship there in. Three years after the centenary celebrations, in July 1872, a discussion took place about acquiring the land at the west end for a new Baptist Chapel, and male members were to constitute a committee to meet on the 29th july of that year. Nothing materialised until1874 when Robert Shaw, Wm, Sagar and Wm. Varley were appointed to enquire and report.
In 1876 the decision to erect a new chapel and school was made, providing 'the necessary funds are forthcoming'.
The Committee :
Robt Shaw, Wm. Varley, Henry Ingham, Thos. Stout, Wm. Sagar, John Sagar, J.e Croft, James Crabtree,
Wm. Crabtree, Peter Smith, Wm. Bateman, Henry Cocks and Richard Elliott.
They met on November 13th 1887 to discuss raising funds and there transpired the following resolution :
1, They would have two years to raise the money.
2, Every friend and member to be circulated asking them to state what they would give and as a beginning,
Wm Sagar offered £100, Wm. Bateman offered £100, J.E.Croft offered £50, Thos. Vipond offered £20 and Robert Shaw
offered 1/3rd of the whole cost.
The money subscribed was borrowed by the trustees at arate of 5% per annum to enable them to buy the houses 9, 11 and 13 Keighley Road which had come onto the market on the death of Thomas Shaw. The circular read as follows :
Dear Friend, you are probably aware that the church and congregation have been contemplating the erection of a new chapel and school. At the meeting of church some time ago, it was decided that achapel and school should be built and that additional land be obtained behind our present school, and this resolution the building committee has carried into effect. Also at a special meeting of the church it was resolved to purchase the adjoining property from the executors of the late Thomas Shaw. Arrangements have been made for its transfer to the trustees, and it is expected that the rents from this property will more than meet the ground rent of the whole.
It may be stated that for the prosecution of this object, some funds have been already collected, from various sources, amounting to about £580 of which sum, the principal portion has been raised by the ladies of the congregation whose industr and zeal are worthy of the warmest thanks.
At a general meeting of the church held on the 13th November, 1887, and called by the building committee to consider the desireability of proceeding with the work of erecting the proposed chapel and school, it was agreed unanimously to raise sufficient means for commencing the undertaking and that a circullar be prepared and sent to every member of the church and congregation. To carry out these resolutions the committee has met and new sends you this circular appeal asking you kindly to contribute to the proposed object. It is considered that no less a sum than £9.000 will be needed to meet our requirements, and to realise this sum, it will be necessary that each of us should contribute to the utmost of his ability.
To reeive the regular contributions during a 2 year period that one quarter of the sum kindly promised should be given on or before the 31st december. You will greatly aid the work of the committee by filling up the enclosed form and returning it to the secretary,Mr. H. Ingham, before the end of the year.
A generous member of the church has encouragged us to zeal and liberality by offering one third of the entire cost of the buildings. Liberal offers have also been made by others and it is our earnest hope that the response to this appeal may by God's blessing issue us complete success.
Signed by order of the committee James Bury Chairman, Wm.Bateman Treasurer, Hy. Ingham Secretary.
Before all these plans materialised, Mr Bury resigned in unhappy circumstances, having accused the deacons in a letter with illegally and wrongfully asking him to do so, and in 1879, a Mr Parker was invited from spurgeon's college for a trial as a pastor. He was accepted and commenced his ministry in April 1880, and later that year it was decided that there 'be female as well as male' visitors. Up to this time, affairs have been very much male dominated in every sphere of activity with the exception of catering and organising church Bazzars, but we must remember that women did not get the vote until 1918, and then it was only for 30 plus. Plans were now underway for the demolitions of the old church, and in April 1881 it was resolved to invite as many non-church goers as possible to attend the closing service.
The last Baptism was performed in the old chapel on March 26th 1882, when mary Ellen Foulds, M.A Sagar, S.A.Ingham, Julie Smith, ALice Lee, Harriet Hartley and Joseph Stuttard passed through the waters of Baptism and were received into the |Chapel fellowship on Sunday April 2nd, which was the last Lord's Ordinance Service to be held before demolition.
Trinity Baptist Church 1883
The buildings known as Trinity were completed and opened for worship at the end of September 1883, a remrkable fete when you consider that in those days all the stone had to be quarried and dressed by hand, andyou look at the building which emersed.the opening ceremonies were spread over three weeks. On September 23rd, the guest minister was the Rev R. Richards of Pembroke Chapel, Liverpool, and the offering for that day was £233.3shillings. A second service, held on Wednesday evening, brought in an offering of £80.0 Shillings 2d . Th following sunday, the principal of Brighton Grove Baptist College, Manchester, The Rev E Parker D.D , Conducted the services, when large congregations enjoyed sacred music, and the offertory was £212.16 shilings and 7d. On sunday October 7th the Rev Wm.Jones conducted a well - attended service, the offertory amounting to £300.8 shillings 4d. On the monday evening, the party heldd in the school room at which 520 people sat down, and a meeting was held in the chapel presided over Robert Shaw J.P., and there were speeches from the Rev,Botterill, G.Hobson, J.s. Stanwell, J Brown, E Morgan, G.C Croome and the pastor Rev,A Parker - J.Rycroft was also present and the guest was George Baines, The Architect.
The Chairman, opening the meeting, brieflyreferred to the erection of the place then went on to hope that it would encourage someone to come and hear preaching of the gospel. He trusted that anyone who were induced to come would receive a hearty welcome. He found, he continued, that too many ppeople went out for a 'walk' as they called it - that meant a distance of 3 or 4 miles and got drunk. He did not like that kind of thing and he trusted that there would be less of it than there had been, and instead he hoped they would be induced to go to some place of worship. during his life, he said, he had been struck by one thing, that a great many children were always coming into the world. What became of them? What did they become? They became workers of some kind, and they had duties to perform for generations unborn. Hence the necessity for their being properly trained for that. The sunday school was a place where the duties of life could be taught with all its responsibilities. As he looked around, he saw several who were considerably younger than he was, and hoped the object for which they came was to do good and get good, and make the world better than when they found it. then future generations would be better than present and they would hear less of wars and rumours of wars.
the offertory on that occasion amounted to£174.15 shillings 7d., bringing the total offerings to £1,001.3. shillings 5d.
A Bible was presented to commemorate the first marriage on the premises of Mary Emma Broughton to Wm. Rycroft, and the first candidates for Baptism were Emily Taylor, Annie lewis, John Bury, Judson Williamson, and Elizabeth Hartley.
In August 1881, the Colne Times reported:
plans were invited from architects those from Mr George Baines, Accrington had been selected for execution, and judging from inspection of the same, the premises when erected will rank among the finest in the locality. The new chapel is intended to seat about 768 persons, as against 450 in the present structure, and the new school will provide accomodation for 600 scholars, with assembly room. The new chapel and school will stand on the site of thee present church and school, and will be connected with the new school, which is now being erected at the back ofthe exhisting chapel and school. The work erecting the school will be prosecuted first, and when completed public worship will be carried on in it whilst the old chapel is being pulled down and the new one erected.
August 13th 1881 was the date chosen to lay the foundation stones of the new building. It was according to the Colne times of August 20th:
'not warm, but not unfavourable, a liitle rain falling just before the conclusion of the ceremony which started at 2.30 pm.
on the platform were: J.Barlow Esq, J.P. mayor of Accrington. Wm. Snape Esq. Mayor of Over Darwen, Abraham Altham Esq, J.P Mayor of Burnley.
Rev. Chas Williams ( Accrington ) Rev. B.Bowker ( Sunnyside ), Rev, George J.Dunn ( Mr Spurgeons College ), Rev. J. Brown,
Rev. R. Bottill ( Colne ) REv. W Thosely ( Colne ), Rev A. parker ( Pastor of the society ). G. Baines Esq, J.P Colne Hall
and Mr & Mrs shaw, Thomas shaw \Esq, Bank House and mrs Thomas Shaw.
The ceremony commenced with singing of a hymn, O thou to whom in ancient time, and after prayer offered by the rev, G.J. Dunn, Wm Sagar placed a bottle containing a list of the promoters of the building scheme, The Baptist, some local papers and a few small coins, together with a photograph of the old chapel and school. The Rev. A. Parker then presented to Mrs \shaw a trowel and mallet for the purpose of laying the foundation stone of the new chapel. The trowel was then presented to
Mrs Robert Shaw beaaring the inscription... Presented to Mrs Shaw at the laying of the foundation stone of the Baptist Chapel Colne. August 13th 1881. The trowel presented to Mrs Shaw was returned to Trinity in Junbe 1973, and is still in our possession.
At the turn of the century there were 13 classes for girls and six classes for boys, and volunteers were called for who would be willing to sit among the girls and boys on sunday nights. In 1906, teachers were given instructions to report any bad behaviour and such scholars who were reported had two stars deducted for each offence. T he Rev. Sandy Kenthad resigned in 1903, so for over a year Trinity was without a Pastor, then in march 1904, an invitation was sent to the Rev. Cornelius Davies and he took office later that same year.
The Victorian era was over - an 'in Memorium' seervice was held for the dead Queen Victoria having been held on Februuary 3rd 1901 and the Edwardian period was ushered in. The Boer war hAd ended a year after the Queen's death and we were to witness, before the end of the Rev.Davies Pastorate, the start of another conflict - the 1914/1918 war. Possibly what was hoped to be the most important movement on the part of Trinity has been the 'lengthening of the cord'. For a period of 139 years, the Baptists had been content to worship in one place and to control one church. Though there had been a desire to extend the field of labour, no scheme in this direction came forward in Colne until 1906. On January 29th of that year there was a committee formed with Alderman Sagar J.P., C.a., at the head
The Chairman, opening the meeting, brieflyreferred to the erection of the place then went on to hope that it would encourage someone to come and hear preaching of the gospel. He trusted that anyone who were induced to come would receive a hearty welcome. He found, he continued, that too many ppeople went out for a 'walk' as they called it - that meant a distance of 3 or 4 miles and got drunk. He did not like that kind of thing and he trusted that there would be less of it than there had been, and instead he hoped they would be induced to go to some place of worship. during his life, he said, he had been struck by one thing, that a great many children were always coming into the world. What became of them? What did they become? They became workers of some kind, and they had duties to perform for generations unborn. Hence the necessity for their being properly trained for that. The sunday school was a place where the duties of life could be taught with all its responsibilities. As he looked around, he saw several who were considerably younger than he was, and hoped the object for which they came was to do good and get good, and make the world better than when they found it. then future generations would be better than present and they would hear less of wars and rumours of wars.
the offertory on that occasion amounted to£174.15 shillings 7d., bringing the total offerings to £1,001.3. shillings 5d.
A Bible was presented to commemorate the first marriage on the premises of Mary Emma Broughton to Wm. Rycroft, and the first candidates for Baptism were Emily Taylor, Annie lewis, John Bury, Judson Williamson, and Elizabeth Hartley.
In August 1881, the Colne Times reported:
plans were invited from architects those from Mr George Baines, Accrington had been selected for execution, and judging from inspection of the same, the premises when erected will rank among the finest in the locality. The new chapel is intended to seat about 768 persons, as against 450 in the present structure, and the new school will provide accomodation for 600 scholars, with assembly room. The new chapel and school will stand on the site of thee present church and school, and will be connected with the new school, which is now being erected at the back ofthe exhisting chapel and school. The work erecting the school will be prosecuted first, and when completed public worship will be carried on in it whilst the old chapel is being pulled down and the new one erected.
August 13th 1881 was the date chosen to lay the foundation stones of the new building. It was according to the Colne times of August 20th:
'not warm, but not unfavourable, a liitle rain falling just before the conclusion of the ceremony which started at 2.30 pm.
on the platform were: J.Barlow Esq, J.P. mayor of Accrington. Wm. Snape Esq. Mayor of Over Darwen, Abraham Altham Esq, J.P Mayor of Burnley.
Rev. Chas Williams ( Accrington ) Rev. B.Bowker ( Sunnyside ), Rev, George J.Dunn ( Mr Spurgeons College ), Rev. J. Brown,
Rev. R. Bottill ( Colne ) REv. W Thosely ( Colne ), Rev A. parker ( Pastor of the society ). G. Baines Esq, J.P Colne Hall
and Mr & Mrs shaw, Thomas shaw \Esq, Bank House and mrs Thomas Shaw.
The ceremony commenced with singing of a hymn, O thou to whom in ancient time, and after prayer offered by the rev, G.J. Dunn, Wm Sagar placed a bottle containing a list of the promoters of the building scheme, The Baptist, some local papers and a few small coins, together with a photograph of the old chapel and school. The Rev. A. Parker then presented to Mrs \shaw a trowel and mallet for the purpose of laying the foundation stone of the new chapel. The trowel was then presented to
Mrs Robert Shaw beaaring the inscription... Presented to Mrs Shaw at the laying of the foundation stone of the Baptist Chapel Colne. August 13th 1881. The trowel presented to Mrs Shaw was returned to Trinity in Junbe 1973, and is still in our possession.
At the turn of the century there were 13 classes for girls and six classes for boys, and volunteers were called for who would be willing to sit among the girls and boys on sunday nights. In 1906, teachers were given instructions to report any bad behaviour and such scholars who were reported had two stars deducted for each offence. T he Rev. Sandy Kenthad resigned in 1903, so for over a year Trinity was without a Pastor, then in march 1904, an invitation was sent to the Rev. Cornelius Davies and he took office later that same year.
The Victorian era was over - an 'in Memorium' seervice was held for the dead Queen Victoria having been held on Februuary 3rd 1901 and the Edwardian period was ushered in. The Boer war hAd ended a year after the Queen's death and we were to witness, before the end of the Rev.Davies Pastorate, the start of another conflict - the 1914/1918 war. Possibly what was hoped to be the most important movement on the part of Trinity has been the 'lengthening of the cord'. For a period of 139 years, the Baptists had been content to worship in one place and to control one church. Though there had been a desire to extend the field of labour, no scheme in this direction came forward in Colne until 1906. On January 29th of that year there was a committee formed with Alderman Sagar J.P., C.a., at the head
Trinity Baptist Church 1923
In 1923, the first meeting took place of the newly formed 'Young Peoples fellowship'. The Rev.Phillips presided and a promise had to be given that if they became members, they attend meetings as regularly as possible. The committee appointed , to carry its objects 'to promote a great understanding of the scriptures', J.Wild and L.Jackson as registrars. On October 24th the Pastor outlined some practical suggestions for young speakers:
In 1931 several attempts had therefore been tried to keep the interest of the youth, including the institution of a Girls Auxiliary, but this was rejected at a meeting held on June 10th 1929, while two years previously, worshipers league should meet the first sunday of the new year (1928), and that arrangement be made for minister's class for church associates to meet on the afternoon of the first Sunday of the month.
The membership of the church at the time was during the T.J.Harvey ministries of Rev.Philips death was 270, and it was during his ministry that the special dedication service for infants was instituted, services which are held to this day.
The forming of the men's institute was suggested in 1920, and two or three rooms were allocated. There was also a girls gymnasium, and the combination of the two provoked this minute of April 28th 1921:
Perhaps it was this situation which led to the proposed temporary premises for an institute on the east side of the school as discussed at a meeting on November 3rd 1926. The estimated cost was £400, and the church offered to give £200 and act as guarantors for £200 to be raised by the institute, and when the caretakers wage was increased from £2.10 shillings to £3 the men's institute was instructed to pay 5/- of it
In February 1930 an at home was held, the proceeds of which were to clear the debt of £200 owing to the church for the institute foundation. The Institute has served the young men well over a great many years, but in 1967 the future of the building, which had fallen into disrepair, was discussed and boy's brigade officers were asked to consider suggestions regarding it.
They decided to utilise the institute as a B.B Headquarters, the money for the renovation to be raised by their own efforts and through County Grants. The Girls Brigade inherited their old room in the Sunday school gallery and after redecorating, it is G.B.H,Q.
The institute still stands today and has had a new lease of life, still a temporary build for nearly a centuary it is now used as a youth and community centre and used as often as necassery.
It Is with regret that in 1986 the Grand Trinity Baptist Church building shown in the black and white photo's above was demolished due to dry rot , the cost of up keep and decline in parishners it was decided to demolish it. Trinity Baptist Church now meet for two meetings on a sunday in the schhool building which is to the bottom end of the church photo above, with an average congregation of 34.
The above information is very brief but we could fill miles of web pages, all the above has been taken from The Baptists in Colne by Dora Yates, a life long member of
Trinity Batist Church Colne and still is.
In 1931 several attempts had therefore been tried to keep the interest of the youth, including the institution of a Girls Auxiliary, but this was rejected at a meeting held on June 10th 1929, while two years previously, worshipers league should meet the first sunday of the new year (1928), and that arrangement be made for minister's class for church associates to meet on the afternoon of the first Sunday of the month.
The membership of the church at the time was during the T.J.Harvey ministries of Rev.Philips death was 270, and it was during his ministry that the special dedication service for infants was instituted, services which are held to this day.
The forming of the men's institute was suggested in 1920, and two or three rooms were allocated. There was also a girls gymnasium, and the combination of the two provoked this minute of April 28th 1921:
Perhaps it was this situation which led to the proposed temporary premises for an institute on the east side of the school as discussed at a meeting on November 3rd 1926. The estimated cost was £400, and the church offered to give £200 and act as guarantors for £200 to be raised by the institute, and when the caretakers wage was increased from £2.10 shillings to £3 the men's institute was instructed to pay 5/- of it
In February 1930 an at home was held, the proceeds of which were to clear the debt of £200 owing to the church for the institute foundation. The Institute has served the young men well over a great many years, but in 1967 the future of the building, which had fallen into disrepair, was discussed and boy's brigade officers were asked to consider suggestions regarding it.
They decided to utilise the institute as a B.B Headquarters, the money for the renovation to be raised by their own efforts and through County Grants. The Girls Brigade inherited their old room in the Sunday school gallery and after redecorating, it is G.B.H,Q.
The institute still stands today and has had a new lease of life, still a temporary build for nearly a centuary it is now used as a youth and community centre and used as often as necassery.
It Is with regret that in 1986 the Grand Trinity Baptist Church building shown in the black and white photo's above was demolished due to dry rot , the cost of up keep and decline in parishners it was decided to demolish it. Trinity Baptist Church now meet for two meetings on a sunday in the schhool building which is to the bottom end of the church photo above, with an average congregation of 34.
The above information is very brief but we could fill miles of web pages, all the above has been taken from The Baptists in Colne by Dora Yates, a life long member of
Trinity Batist Church Colne and still is.
