HISTORY

The first recorded place of worship in Staincliffe is an Independent Church, Nonconformist, erected in 1687. Rev Noble was their pastor, and the building of 1687 was their second building on the site. The Church moved to Heckmondwike in 1700, and there wasn't another Independent Church in Staincliffe until 1819, when Staincliffe Baptist Church was constituted.

The pastor of Westgate Baptist Church in Bradford, Rev Dr William Stedman (see picture 1 below), sent out intinerant preachers to various areas, one of them being Ossett. William White was walking from Bradford to Ossett one Sunday morning to preach the gospel, when he was stopped by a number of Staincliffe men who asked him if a Baptist Church could be started in Staincliffe.

James Taylor, a Staincliffe man, opened his house in Chapel Fold for William White to preach the gospel. As the group grew, William White started to preach in the open air. The Sunday services continued until Joshua Pyrah opened his larger house in Chapel Fold for Sunday services.

By this time three men came on a Sunday morning to preach, White and two companions, Liversedge and Ellis. Through their efforts, the first four men to be converted were Matthew Parker, Thomas Exley, John Brooke and Joseph Bruce. These four Staincliffe men were baptised as believers by full emersion on 28 December 1820. It is said that they were baptised in an outside pond, and the ice had to be broken to allow the baptism to continue. The man to baptise them was Rev Dr William Stedman from Bradford. On 25 March 1821 these four men formed a Church at Chapel Fold, and they celebrated the Lord's Supper together, led by Rev Dr William Stedman.

As Staincliffe Baptist Church grew, money was raised among the congregation to build their first church building. This was built for £300, and opened for worship 27 April 1822. The service was led by Rev Dr William Stedman. The first people to be baptised in the new building were Rebecca Pyrah, Martha Newsome, Mary Preston and Henry Nilstrip, on 15 June 1822.

It wasn't until 1832 that the fellowship was strong enough to appoint its first pastor, Rev Jonas Facer. Under his leadership, the church grew to such an extent that the building had to be extended. Rev Facer left the work in 1837 to emigrate to USA.

In July 1843 Rev John Allison from Rochdale became the second pastor of the Church, and the membership is recorded at sixty-five. Due to the numerical success of the work at Chapel Fold, the members decided to start an outreach work in the Cloth Hall in Dewsbury in 1845. The Church at Chapel prospered so well that in 1850 they were able to purchase two adjoining houses and a field and build a second Church. The was opened 12 January 1852. Sadly, a few days later, Rev John Allison died and was interred in front of the chapel.

The Church continued without a pastor until January 21 1861 when Rev Simon Hall was inducted. He remained with the Church until 21 December 1830.

..................TO BE CONTINUED

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UPDATED: 25 OCT 2008

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