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Sowerby Bridge Baptist Church History

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SOWERBY BRIDGE:
Sowerby Bridge Baptist Church History up to 1912.

Source=h:/!Genuki/RecordTranscriptions/WRY/BaptistChurches.txt

SOWERBY BRIDGE BAPTIST CHURCH

The Sowerby Bridge Church was born through the prayerful interest of members of other Churches -especially of Rishworth- who had come to live in the town. Finding themselves at a great distance from their spiritual homes, they met for consideration of their duty. Encouraged by the Rishworth pastor, they rented a room, and sent delegates to seek counsel of the District Committee. The tenancy of a room in the Town Hall was then secured, and services commenced in April, 1878. The site of the present premises was purchased in 1884, and the chapel built in 1885. The Church now united itself with the Hope Church, Hebden Bridge.

On January 23rd, 1887, the Rev. H. Hughes became pastor of Norland and Sowerby and ministered there for two years. In 1892 the cause freed itself from debt, and on August 3rd, a separate Church of nineteen members was formed. In 1896 Mr. John Fox, of the Manchester City Mission, settled as evangelist-in-charge, the Church being assisted by the funds of the County. This work was attended with good results; new schools and alterations in the premises became imperative, and these efforts were concluded in 1900, at an outlay of 1000. The Church reports difficulties in its present work, owing to so many young people removing to the larger centres of industry.


Transcribed by Colin Hinson © 2014
from the "Present Churches" section of
The Baptists of Yorkshire
by Rev. J. Brown Morgan
and Rev. C.E. Shipley