History

Woodhouse Eaves Baptist Church is the oldest church in the village. The church began meeting in a house on Main Street in 1780. The first building was erected in 1796 when the present site was given to the church by Edward Johnson (1722-1807). In 1885 the chapel was restored and modified on the same site, but it was demolished and completely rebuilt in 1981, with its distinctive octagonal shape. So 2021 was the 225th anniversary of the first church building and 2022 was the 40th anniversary of the official opening of new church building (on 6th February 1982)

“Edward Johnson, a worthy general baptist, had been turned out of a profitable farm at Swithland, on account of his religion; and had settled at Woodhouse Eaves, a village about three miles south of Loughborough. Not deterred by the persecution he had already suffered, he cheerfully opened his house in 1780, for the preaching of the gospel. Many attended; and a foundation was laid, on which a separate interest has since been raised.”

Adam Taylor (1818), ‘The History of the English General Baptists, Part II: The New Connection', Ch. 1, Sect. 2, p.160.

 “The attention to detail given by the architects and craftsmen who rebuilt the Baptist Church within the Conservation Area in 1981 has provided the village with much for which to be thankful. Its bricks, slates, and detailing follow local tradition whereas the overall form of the building is a statement of its own late 20th century period.” 

Woodhouse Eaves Village Design Statement [online]. Available at: https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/files/documents/woodhouse_eaves_vds1/woodhouseeavesvds.pdf