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Wigan Album

BAPTIST CHURCH WIGAN

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Wigan Baptist Church 1803
Wigan Baptist Church 1803
Photo: RON HUNT
Views: 3,503
Item #: 32757
I found this bit of information on the internet.

History
The first Baptist Church in Wigan was in Lord Street (a parallel street to the current location of the church). This was opened in 1796. The small church did not initially have a baptistry with records describing baptisms in the nearby River Douglas.

A second Baptist Church was opened in the town centre in March 1827. Later this moved to King Street and on 4th May 1854 became known as King Street Baptist Church.

On 13th October 1853 the current church, known as Scarisbrick Street Baptist Church, was opened. There are records of a violent storm hitting the nearly completed church on Christmas Day 1852 reducing the building to rubble.

The two Baptist Churches in the town continued to develop with history recording in both, periods of prosperity and difficulties. Both Baptist Churches had good relationships with each other and often co-operated even though there were differences in doctrinal policy.

In October 1969 the King Street Baptist Church closed and amalgamated with Scarsibrick Street Baptist Church on the current site forming the Wigan Baptist Church.

In very recent years a series of letters has been discovered in Manchester which were written by Samuel Harris to John Brown during a period between 1820 and 1830. Samuel Harris was one of the very early settlers in the State of Indiana in the U.S. He wrote these letters from Indiana to his friend John Brown who was a member of the Lord Street Chapel in Wigan. The letters give an amazing insight into the life of the early settlers in the U.S. and also glimpses of life in Wigan and in the Lord Street Chapel. The letters are of great interest to historians on both sides of the Atlantic.

More details of the church history can be found in the booklet available in the church: Pathways to Faith, A history of Wigan Baptist Church 1796 - 1996 by Dr Ian Sellers.

A copy and explanation of the Harris letters is available at the church written by David Brady.

Comment by: Rev David Long on 5th November 2020 at 17:07

When the King Street church closed it appears that it was decided not to transfer the War Memorial(s) to Scarisbrick Street. I've recorded the one they have, but wonder whether a member of the congregation at King Street managed to salvage anything of the one(s) there?
Sadly, in the period when King Street closed War Memorials were going through a period of indifference and neglect.
Does Dr Sellers mention the King Street memorials, Ron? I know there was a WW1 tablet - the Wigan Observer for 13/11/1920 mentions its forthcoming unveiling.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 5th November 2020 at 19:56

David I don't know. Maybe I'll call in one Sunday and see if I can pick up the aforementioned booklet.

Comment by: Cyril on 6th November 2020 at 14:34

This information was also posted on the photo of the King Street Baptist church on 28th October 2020, along with a link to the Harris/Brown letters in the Wigan Archives, if anyone hasn't seen the other post and wants to have a read of them, there is some information on Wigan life between 1821 to 1832, a link to the letters is replicated below.

https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Docs/PDF/Resident/Leisure/Museums-and-archives/archives/Harris-BrownLettersWLCTWALS.pdf

Comment by: RON HUNT on 6th November 2020 at 15:01

Thanks for that Cyril. Its amazing what information is available on the internet these days..

Comment by: Cyril on 6th November 2020 at 16:39

It is Ron, and also thanks to Brian, David and yourself the vast information that can be found on here. Interestingly a photo on the Album of houses on Lord Street shows a gravestone in a front garden, https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=14241&gallery=Lord+Street%252C+Wigan&offset=0

I remember when the town houses at the bottom were being built and they uncovered graves, also later when the last in the row of the old houses was having an extension built at the side more graves were uncovered, it was thought at the time that it was a forgotten part of the graveyard of St Domingo a medieval chapel that was near by.

Muriel Sage writes in Past Forward about St Domingo farm on Duke Street, which she was told was haunted. See Skeletons in the Cupboard, page 41 of Past Forward Issue 38 Nov 2004. https://issuu.com/wlct/docs/38_nov-2004-march-2005/41

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