The Baptists were first introduced into Keighley by a Mr. John Town, who
was a member of the Baptist church at Haworth, under the care of the
venerable and Rev. Miles Oddy. Keighley was at that time beginning to be
a large and populous place. The clergyman in the establishment was an
irreligious character, and the Independent church and congregation were
nearly extinct.
At first the ministers were permitted to preach in the Independent
meeting-house; but after some time a Mrs. Sunderland offered her house,
until Mr. Town could fit up a room for constant worship. The ministers
who kindly assisted in the formation of the infant cause were, Messrs.
Steadman, D. D., Shuttleworth, Trickett, and Shaw.
In the year 1809, or 1810, four persons were baptized by Mr.
Shuttleworth, pastor of the church at Cowlinghill: and on the third of
June, 1810, a large upper room in the house of Mr. Town was opened for
worship by Mr. Shepherd, from Bradford, who preached on this occasion
from Solomon's Song, vi. 10. The congregation increased; others were
baptized; and in the year 1812 the church was formed. In 1813 it was
deemed necessary to erect a chapel. A piece of ground was provided by
Mr. Town; and on Easter Monday, 1813, the first stone was laid; but the
chapel was not opened until the 29th of March, 1815; when Mr. Lister, of
Liverpool, Mr. Stephens, of Rochdale, and the venerable Dr. Steadman, of
Bradford, were engaged. At this period the church consisted of eighteen
members. The chapel cost something more than £990; and will seat about
615 persons.
The first pastor of the church was Mr. Joseph Shaw, who came to Keighley
in 1814. During the years 1816, 1817, and 1818, little is said: but in
1819 the members amounted to 33; and some uneasiness originating with a
part of the church and the minister, a separation took place, and a new
chapel was erected by the party attached to Mr. Shaw, at Slacklane, from
two to three miles from Keighley. This circumstance left the church at
Keighley very small, and greatly diminished the congregation.
In 1820 Mr. Thomas Blundell took the oversight of the people in the
Lord. The members again numbered 32. In 1824 a large portion of the debt
was removed; soon after which, the pastor was taken ill, and on July
1st, 1824, resigned his spirit into the hands of Him who gave it. During
this year four members were also removed to the world of spirits; among
whom were Mr. Town and his wife, who died within ten days of each other;
and whose remains were deposited in the burial-ground adjoining the
chapel; and to whose memory a handsome tombstone has been erected by the
family.
These strokes of mortality appear to have been sanctified--a spirit of
prayer has been excited--and a morning prayer-meeting established to
seek divine direction in the choice of a pastor. And on Sunday, Aug.
15th, 1824, the present pastor, Mr. Abraham Nichols, then under the care
of Dr. Steadman, and a member of the church at Rawden, under the care of
Mr. Hughes, preached his first sermons at Keighley, and baptized two
persons at Turkeymill. From this time his visits to Keighley became
frequent; and on the first of November, he received an invitation to
become pastor. On the 30th of January, 1825, he accepted the invitation,
and preached from Rom. xv. 30, to the end.
Things now began to wear rather an animating appearance. Some gentlemen
were at the expense of fitting up a baptistry; and Mr. Jos. Town,
youngest son of the above-mentioned Mr. Town, presented the minister
with a Bible and hymn book for the pulpit. This gentleman is a deacon of
the Baptist church at Leeds, under the care of the Rev. J. Acworth, A.M.
A subscription was also entered into for the liquidation of the debt
upon the chapel; and on the 25th of December, 1825, the friends, at the
close of two sermons by Mr. Stephens of Rochdale, realized the sum of
£166 0s. 6d., including £30 each from the two Mr. Towns, £15 from a
sister, and £10 from a brother-in-law; with many other equally noble
sums, according to the ability of the parties.
On the 15th of August, 1826, Mr. Nichols was ordained, when Mr. Mann,
late of Mazepond, London, stated the nature of a gospel church; Mr.
Hughes offered the ordination prayer; Dr. Steadman delivered the charge,
from 2 Sam. x. 12; and Mr. Godwin addressed the church, from 1 Thess. v.
12, 13.
In 1829 the singing gallery was altered, and the bottom of the chapel
pewed; also, a very substantial and convenient house was built for the
minister, which cost about £260, towards the expense of which there was
£188 (duty off) left as an endowment by J. Holmes, Esq., of Stanbury,
near Haworth, and which could be appropriated to no purpose but for the
advantage of the minister.
In 1830, the burial-ground having been enlarged on each side, a portion
of the debt was removed.
In 1834 and 1835, the ground was again enlarged, by the addition of 312
yards; and a new school-room erected, towards which, including a grant
through the British and Foreign School Society, the subscriptions and
collections, &c., have amounted to about £220.
The Sabbath-school contains near 100 children; the congregation,
including 91 families or parts of families, will average from 300 to
400; the number of members, near 70.
The following persons have been deacons of the church, viz.:
John Beadley, who died July 20th, 1827; funeral sermon from 1 Cor. vii.
29, 30. Jonas Rhodes, who died Oct. 11th, 1832. Samuel Clapham, who died
March 24th, 1833. (There is a short account of each of the two latter in
the Baptist Tract Magazine, for 1833.) Joseph Milner, who died April,
1834; and who had been deacon from the formation of the church.
The present deacons are,--Mr. John Town, Turkey-Mills; Mr. Joseph
Laycock, Knowl; and Mr. Joseph Hall, North-street.
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