Loughborough, Leicestershire, Baptist Church

Loughborough, Leicestershire, Baptist Church -- The following history is taken from “History of the Baptist Churches in Connection with the Leicestershire Association,” Baptist Magazine (1866), 101-02.

The Particular Baptist church, Sparrow-hill, originated in a seccession from the General Baptist church under the care of the Rev. T. Stevenson, then meeting in Woodgate chapel, Loughborough. The separation arose from a difference of opinion respecting an act of church discipline. There being no church within a convenient distance with which the seceders could conscientiously unite, in the year 1815, a small place of worship, 30 feet by 21, was erected, and opened by the Rev. Robert Hall, of Leicester. In November of the same year they were formed into a church, and, in the following year, the Rev. George Capes became their pastor. His ministry having been attended with considerable success, the place was found to be inconveniently small; and, therefore, in the year 1818, the present chapel was erected and opened. In 1826, after ten years' ministry, Mr. Capes resigned his pastorate; and, in 1828, was succeeded by the Rev. Isaac New, student from Bradford College. The flourishing state of the congregation rendered necessary the erection of galleries, which were opened at the close of the same year. In 1829 the number of members was 58. After a pastorate of three years Mr. new resigned his office, when the pulpit was supplied for some months by the Rev. Joshua Gray, who left during his probation to go to Cambridge. In 1832 the Rev. George Aveline became the pastor, and retained his office until the year 1837. During this year the church was considerably affected by the general mortality [morality?] that prevailed. In the summer of 1837, the Rev. W. P. Scott became the pastor, remaining till the close of 1844. He was a man of kind and gentle spirit, and his ministry was attended with a good measure of success.

At the beginning of 1845, the Rev. Charles Stanford succeeded him; and in the same year the practice of open communion with the members of the Paedobaptist churches was adopted. The grace and charm of Mr. Stanford's eloquence in proclaiming the truths of the gospel of Christ rendered his ministry attractive to many; and his removal in December, 1846, was a loss to the town. At this time the church numbered 71 members. In 1848, the Rev. J. Cooper, late student of Bradford College, received the unanimous call of the church to the pastorate; and, after whose removal the church was dissolved and the chapel almost closed.

In the year 1856, after considerable alterations and repairs, the chapel was re-opened and a new church formed under the pastoral care of the Rev. W. Pechey, M.A., consisting of nine members. He gained respect of all classes, and his preaching was very acceptable. After two years' labours he resigned his office, the church then numbered sixteen members. In August of the same year, the Rev. T. Bumpus became the pastor, and still continues zealously prosecuting under many difficulties his work of faith and labour of love. The church now numbers 38 members. The Sunday School contains about 140 children, and the various institutions for the spread of the gospel in connection with the church and congregation are in successful operation.

The town which gave birth to the prince of puritan divines, John Howe, was the native place of one who holds a distinguished position in the history of the Baptist Missionary Society. William Yates, afterwards Dr. Yates, was a member of the church at Sparrow-hill; and, endowed with special gifts for the acquisition of languages, became the worthy successor of Dr. Carey in translating the Scriptures into the languages of India.