Charles Lane Baptist Church, Leicester

Charles Lane Baptist Church, Leicester. [The following history is taken from “History of the Baptist Churches in Connection with the Leicestershire Association,” Baptist Magazine (1866), 103.] 

    The church was formed from the church in Harvey-lane, in January, 1831. The nucleus of it consisted of fourteen persons, the more prominent of whom were Messrs. James Cort, Richard Harris, and John Carryer.The present chapel, which was erected on the same site as one formerly occupied by a body of Methodists called Kilhamites, at the cost of £3,759 11s. 4d., was opened January, 1831. The Rev. B. Godwin, now Dr. Godwin, of Bradford, and Dr. McAll, of Manchester, took part in the opening services.

    Four ministers have successively occupied the pastoral office in connection with this church. The first pastor, the Rev. D. M. Williams, entered on his duties February 3, 1832, and resigned in December of the same year, on the adoption by the church of open communion. The Rev. James Simmons laboured successfully from July, 1834, to February 21, 1842; and the Rev. John Green, with a considerable measure of usefulness, from May 30, 1842, to June 22, 1847. On Mr. Green's resignation, the church was unhappily divided, and many of the congregation left the place. The present highly esteemed minister, the Rev. Thomas Lomas, entered upon his duties in January 1848, since which time the church has increased year by year. In the year 1861, the chapel was enlarged and improved at a cost of £1,600, the whole of which is now defrayed. The chapel will now accommodate about a thousand persons. A branch interest exists in Thorpe-street, which is sustained by the liberality of one of the deacons. This chapel will accommodate two hundred and fifty persons, the pulpit being occupied by the Rev. John Myers. The total number of children in both Sunday-schools is 700, and of teachers 60. The church now numbers 358 members, and all appearances indicate a prosperous future. As the congregation continued to increase, and the Sunday-school flourished, so that there was not sufficient accommodation for the scholars, it was wisely resolved, instead of building new school-rooms, to erect a new chapel, and to convert the old chapel into a school. This was done at a cost of L900. The new chapel was opened in October of the same year; and, when the opening services were concluded, not a farthing of that sum remained as a debt. The church still continues to prosper and increase under the zealous labours of the Rev. T. Rhys Evans.