 Driffield Baptist Chapel |
DRIFFIELD AND WOLDS GENEALOGY |
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Baptist chapel on the corner of chapel lane, now King Street, with the town Beck opposite the side of the building, where it said, baptisms took place. This is now the meeting place for the WRVS (Taken 9th July, 2001). Some headstones remain, rested against the walls in the graveyard at the back of the building.
The ‘newer’ Baptist chapel, seen to the left. This is now gone and in it’s place is Michael Roberts, the jewellers From The Driffield Times and General Advertiser, Saturday, November 6, 1886 CENTENARY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH AT DRIFFIELD In connection with the centenary of the Baptsit Church, the oldest body of Nonconformists in Driffield, a series of special services were held on Sunday and Tuesday last. On the Sunday the Rev C Welton, the pastor, preached in the morning and evening, whose morning subject was “A glorious Church,” and that in the evening, “A Church in agony for souls.” On Tuesday afternoon, a sermon was preached by the Rev W Williams, of London. A public tea followed, and in the evening a public meeting was held in the chapel, under the presidency of Mr Richard Davison (parishioners churchwarden), there being also on the platform representatives form all the dissenting bodies in the town. Absorbing and deeply impressive addresses on spiritual life were given by the chairman, the Rev’s W.C. Upton (Beverely), W Williams, R.F. Bracey (Congregational), P Peacock (Primitive Methodist), B Crosby (Methodist Free Church) and the pastor. Mr Welton (who, we understand, resigns his pastorate at the close of the year) gave a brief history of the Church, of which the following is a summary – For a hundred years we have had an existence in this town. For many years prior to the formation of the Church there were individuals in the town and neighbourhood holding those views, which we profess. About the year 1785, some members of the Baptist Church at “Bridlington and Bainton” who resided in Driffield, hearing that Mr Wrightson, a member of the Church in Salthouse-lane, Hull, was accustomed to visit Hutton Cranswick for the purpose of preaching the Gospel, invited him to Driffield, when the first efforts were made in the open air, near the town pump, on Cross-hill. An old brew-house was afterwards taken to meet in, and the success was so pleasing that in April, 1786, ten persons were baptised by the Rev Joseph Gowkrodger, pastor of the Baptsist Church at Bridlington, in the mill-stream at Poundsworth, in presence of a large number of spectators and were, with others on the same day formed into a Church, and Mr Wrightson was recognised as the pastor, after which he laboured with much acceptance, many persons in the town and neighbourhood being induced to unite with them in worship. The room occupied soon became too small and thoughts were entertained of a new home for work and worship. In the meantime the room was sold and appropriated to another purpose; hence the little Church was obliged to seek another home. The site of the old chapel in Chapel-lane, with three cottages, was purchased for £87. The chapel was soon after erected, and opened for public worship in 1788, the entire cost of chapel and site being £267. The cottages and ground were conveyed by a trust deed, dated April 22nd, 1788, to Francis Browne, of Kelleythorpe, gentleman; John Thirwell, bricklayer; Thomas Boswell, roper; Michael Nichols, Hutton Cranswick, cordwainer; George Dawson of Poundsworth, miller; Wm Carter, of Nafferton, yeoman; Francis Ireland, of Nafferton, cordwainer; William Randall, Nafferton, waterman; and William Bulmer, of Lockington, cordwainer. Mr Wrightson continued to minister in the new chapel till 1797, when he removed to Bedale. For some years afterwards the pulpit was supplied by Mr Jabez Stuttard, a member of the Baptist Church at Blackley. It seems that Mr Wrightson afterwards returned to Driffield and again officiated as minister, but for what period we are unable to ascertain. After his final departure various supplies officiated and the Church remained in an unsettled state till 1814, when it was reorganised and welcomed the Rev James Normanton of Birkisland, as pastor. He continued for 32 years to be a valuable spiritual teacher, guide and friend to many. During his ministry a schoolroom was erected in 1835. In 1846 indisposition led him to resign his charge, and in 1848 he fell asleep in Jesus, and his mortal remains were interred in the graveyard of the old chapel. During the fifteen years immediately following Mr Normanton’s death the Church passed through one of those stages of bitter experience which divisions and contensions always produce. Soon after Mr Normanton’s resignation in 1846, the Rev J Dunning became the minister and remained in that position until 1848. from that time occasional preachers supplied the pulpit for two years. On April 6, 1850, the Rev R Morris, a student of Horton College, was ordained as pastor, but resigned the following year. E was succeeded by the Rev T.E. Wychereley, whose stay was brief. In 1845, the Church invited Mr Spencer, who officiated for one year only. He was succeeded by the Rev P.S. Johnson, who remained for three years. After his resignation the pulpit was occupied for Mr Cuzner. In the autumn of 1860 the Rev T.G. Jones was invited to the pastoral office, which he held for twelve months, during which time some active steps were taken towards the erection of a new chapel. In the following year all necessary measures were adopted, when the Rev T.W. Monck had been called to the pastorate. The foundation stone of he new chapel in Middle Street was laid October 1st 1861, and the chapel was publicly opened in May 1862. The building cost upwards of £1200, a considerable part of which was given by Miss Mary Drinkrow, a devoted member of the church. After these fifteen years of change and trouble, the Church was cheered and encouraged by the settlement of the Rev A Howden, previously pastor of the Baptist Church in Hunslet, Leeds. Mr Bowden’s ministry commenced Jan 11th 1863, and for upwards of five years he laboured faithfully and successfully. The pastorate of the Rev J Baxendall commenced in Feb 1869 and was characterised by earnest and efficient labour till June 1872, when he resigned and afterwards accepted the pastorate of the Baprist Church in Lancaster, where he is still labouring. In 1873 the Rev Chas Welton of Thetford, Norfolk, was introduced to the Church and after preaching wo Sabbaths received a cordial invitation to the pastorate and commenced his ministry of June 1st of that year. For many years there had been a Baptist preaching station at Cranswick, supplied at times by the pastors and members of the Church at Driffield and by Mr Coypland, of Cherry Burton, who preached every alternate Sunday for more than fifty years. After his death in 1875, the old chapel, which had passed from the denomination, was hired by the Church at Driffield and the pastor commenced Christian work by preaching on May 7th 1876, where he has continued preaching every Sunday afternoon. The new chapel opened in 1880, cost about £500, of which £425 has been raised leaving a debt of £75, of which sum £36 is promised. The pastor leaves a Gospel tract at most of the houses in the village every month, upwards of 20,000 having been given away by him during the past ten years. A village library has been well used for the last six years, and a children’s service, conducted by the pastor each winter, has been largely attended. In 1876 the Church purchased the minister’s house in Lockwood street, Driffield, which in all cost some £500, of which (including £160 the proceeds from sale of the old cottages in Chapel-lane) the Church has raised £350. in 1884 the present chapel was restored and the school premises enlarged at a cost of £700, towards which the cheering sum of £535 has been raised. The present number of members is 46, scholars 77, teachers 8. There is reason to believe that this is the oldest of the Free Churches in Driffield, having erected a chapel some years before the Wesleyans or Congregationalists. There is evidence, however, that the Rev John Wesley preached in the open air in early days of Mr Wrightson’s ministry, and the Congregational Church was formed in 1800, though there are records of an earlier date. COPY OF SALES LETTER HANGING IN CHAPEL Seal dated 27.8.70 CHARITY COMMIFSIONIN THE MATTER OF THE PARTICULAR BAPTIST CHAPEL AND TRUST PROPERTY situate in Chapel Lane in the parish of Great Driffield in the County of York The Board of Charity Commifsioners for England and Wales having considered an application in writing made to them on the first day of May one thousand eight hundred and sixty nine in the matter of the above mentioned Charity by Thomas Randall of Great Driffield aforesaid gentleman who with Enoch Bollard late or formerly of the Caledonian Road in the County of Middlesex ironmonger are two of the trustees of the said Charity appointed by Deed Poll bearing date the twenty seventh day of November one thousand eight hundred and thirty five, and by Thomas Dyson Whitaker accountant, Daniel Field cordwainer, David Whiting tin plate worker and Henry Angas grocer and draper all of Great Driffield aforesaid who with George Whiting of Great Driffield aforesaid schoolmaster were appointed Trustees of the said Charity by a Memorandum in writing – bearing date the twentieth day of September one thousand eight hundred and fifty made in pursuance of an Act 13 and 14 Victoria C.28 and which said persons or some of them are also the actual administrators of the said Charity with the agent and concurrence of the Reverend Jonathan Baxandall the Minister of the above mentioned Chapel for the purpose of the following Order. And it appearing to the said Board that the endowment of the said Charity consists of the said Chapel site, Chapel, vestry, or school room, burial ground, Cottages, Gardens, hereditennants, and appurtenancy – comprised in an Indenture dated the twenty second day of April one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight, and that grofs annual income of the said Charity arising from endowment is lefs than fifty pounds and that it is for the advantage of the said charity that the said Enoch Bolland who has ceased to act in the trust and George Whiting who has ceased to be a member of the said Chapel should be discharged from being Trustees of the said charity and that trustees thereof should be appointed and that decifions should be given by way of scheme for the sale of the said chapel, vestry, or schoolroom, cottages and gardens comprised therewith and for the disposal of the proceeds in manner herein after mentioned and upon public notice of the intention of the said Board to make an order for the foregoing officers having been given by the fixing of same according to the discretion of the said board to the principal outer door of the said above mentioned Chapel on the sixteenth day of August one thousand eight hundred and sixty nine being more that one calendar month previously to the sale hereof and having been also sent to the post under the like direction unto the said Enoch Bollard and George Whiting of their respective last known places of abode in England on the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and sixty nine and no notice of any sufficient objection to the said proposed order or suggestion for the variation thereof having been received by the said board.Do hereby Order that the said Enoch Bollard and George Whiting be removed and discharged from being trustees of the said Charity and that the said Thomas Randall, Thomas Dyson Whitaker, Daniel Field, David Whiting and Henry Angas together with George Jackson, hair drefser, George Johnson, tailor, and George Robert Pickering, tailor, all of Great Driffield aforesaid (who have severally intimated in writing to the said Board their willingnefs to accept and act in the trust) be appointed to be trustees for the administration and management of the said aforementioned charity. And the said Board Do here further Order that the aforesaid Chapel site, Chapel, Vestry or schoolroom, Burial ground, Cottages gardens and hereditaments with the appurtenances comprised in the said above mentioned Indenture of the twenty second day of April one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight and all term and estate therein and all other lands and hereditaments if any, held in trust for the benefit or purposes of the said Charity and not being copyhold tenure with the appurtenances Do vest in the said persons who by virtue hereof are constituted the trustees of the same legal nature of the same premises upon and for the subsisting trusts thereof – And the said Board Do hereby direct that by way of Scheme that the trustees of the said Charity shall with all reasonable speed but subject to the sanction of the Board proceed to sell the said Chapel with the Vestry or school room and the appurtenances and also the said cottages and gardens and that the clear amount of purchase money to arise from the sale of the said Chapel with the Vestry or schoolroom – and the appurtenances after the payment there out of all proper expenses shall be applied by the said Trustees, namely a sum not exceeding twenty pounds in erecting a walk or fence around the said Burial ground or some part or parts thereof and the residue towards payment of the cost of the erection and furnishing of a new Baptist Chapel recently erected in Middle Street Great Driffield aforesaid and that the clear amount of the purchase money to arise from the sale of the said cottages and gardens after the payment thereout of all proper expenses shall be applied by the said trustees in or towards the purchase or erection of a residence for the minister for the time being of the said Chapel in Middle Street to be settled upon the trusts to which the said cottages and gardens are non subject and that the clear amount to be secured from such sale shall until the same be required for the puropose of such intended purchase or erection as last aforesaid be deposited at interest at some bank of established reputation in the names of three at least of the said trustees to be nominated for that purpose by a refolution to be passed at a meeting of the said trustees duly convened for that purpose And that the said trustees shall give conclusive discharges to the purchaser or purchasers for the moneys to arise from the said sales and shall do and execute all such acts and afsurances as may be requisite or proper for carrying such sales into complete effect Sealed by Order of the Board this twenty first day of January one thousand eighty hundred and seventy Henry M Vane Secretary 27th December 1872 Examines with the original order of which we attest this to be a true copy
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