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A very brief History

The 17th century saw growing religious freedoms in Britain and the Baptist movement began. By 1660 there were around 250 Baptist fellowships in England. The 18th century saw the great revivals under the preaching of Wesley and Whitfield and the rapid growth of the Methodist Church. At this time, although somewhat under the radar, Baptist fellowships were still growing and developing. The 19th century was a time of unprecedented industrial and economic growth and many new towns were developed around the rapidly growing factories and the railways. At this time, in the East Midlands, there was an active Baptist grouping known as the “New Connexion”. Stapleford was one such town where a small Baptist fellowship was formed out of the “New Connexion” movement. There is record from 1850 of a Baptist Church meeting in Bostock’s yard which was just off Pinfold Lane. This small fellowship raised the funds and in 1876 the front building on the existing site was opened.

Building Developments and Changes

  • 1876: The front building on the  Albert Street site was opened (cost of building: £1,300)
  • 1884: The back building (originally the Sunday School) was opened
  • 1904: Second storey built to house the organ (see the picture above showing the pulpit and the organ with choir stalls)
  • 1924 : Electric lighting installed in the building (previously lit by gas lamps)
  • 1946: Building redecorated (costing £128) and the organ rebuilt (a further cost of £78)
  • 1956: Renovations of the back building. Installing a kitchen and converting the balcony into two upstairs classrooms.
  • 1966: The first front porch was built (see photo above)
  • 1979: The organ/choir balcony was closed off providing an additional upstairs room. This later became the library
  • 1989: The two buildings were joined, new kitchen facilities and inside toilets provided
  • 1995: Major redecoration of the main auditorium with the pulpit being restyled and lowered
  • 2016: Pews and pulpit removed to create the versatile space we have today
  • 2020: The 1966 porch was demolished and the 2020 porch built

List of Pastors

This list of pastors has been taken from a document provided some years ago by Mr Keith Bullock. The listing has been brought up to date with the addition of the name of our current pastor, David Howe.

  • 1896 – 1897: Mr F Copely
  • 1904 – 1907: Rev F C Morris
  • 1908 – 1912: Rev P G R Monk
  • 1916 – 1919: Rev J Evans
  • 1921 – 1922: Rev J Davis
  • 1922 – 1937: No pastor was employed
  • 1937 – 1939: Rev W J Cammell
  • 1939 – 1944: Rev D G Davies (a joint pastorate with Queen Street Baptist Church, Ilkeston)
  • 1946 – 1951: Rev R W Hammond (recorded starting salary of £286 p.a)
  • 1952 – 1964: Rev H H D Page
  • 1964 part of  the year: Rev C A McDonald
  • 1965 – 1978: Rev P J W Turpin
  • 1978 – 1994: Rev B Freer
  • 1995 – 1999: Rev N Swain
  • 1997 – 2003: Rev S Clarke (1997 – 1999 Assistant Pastor)
  • 2003 – 2010: Interregnum
  • 2010 – 2022: Rev J Griffiths
  • 2023 –         : Rev D Howe