The nation in 1821
It is remarkable what a parallel may be found between the England of a century ago and the England of to-day (3 years after the end of the First World War). A century ago peace had closed the great war with Napoleon, and England was left feverish and exhausted. Taxation was exceedingly heavy, and the National Debt enormous, reaching the unprecedented sum of eight hundred millions. Distress in the country was very great; our industry for a time ran ahead of the world's demands, and the markets at home and abroad were glutted with unsaleable goods. Mills and factories were therefore brought to a standstill. A series of bad harvests caused great scarcity, and in consequence there arose a great discussion upon free trade and what we now call protection. Agitation against machinery became violent, and crime increased alarmingly. ...
Attleborough in 1821
Coming to the Green by way of what is now Kem Street, our forefathers' eyes were gladdened by the view of green fields, and their way impeded often by the brook which ran along the street. Scarcely any of the houses familiar to our eyes were there, and only one or two of the original houses remain as they were then.
Approaching the Chapel from Bull Street there were no houses along the right hand side of the street. Those which are now (1921) dilapidated cottages, stood, and with them one or two small thatched cottages, in one of which a smithy was carried on.
The Square was much what it is now, except that the fronts of many of the houses have been altered. On the Green instead of a factory there were cottages and gardens, and there too was the mill, where some of the present members can remember taking their gleanings to be ground; but that was very long ago.
One great lack might have been noticed by the thoughtful man, and that would have been the absence of any church or chapel. For the public worship of God the people depended upon visiting preachers who held services in some of the kitchens of people whose heart the Lord had touched. ...
The first step forward religiously was due to the interest that the Cow Lane Baptist Church, Coventry*, took in Attleborough. For years there had been a commercial connexion between the City of Three Spires and this quiet village ; now that commercial connexion is to be enriched by a religious connexion. We must remember that a century ago weaving was in full swing in this district. The goods were made upon hand looms in the shops attached to the dwelling houses, and then week by week the pieces were taken to the warehouse at Coventry...
It was largely through the efforts of Rev. Francis Franklin*, a name
honourable in both Baptist and commercial circles in Coventry, that the
hopes of many that a House of God might be built at Attleborough, was
realised.In 1810 a preaching station was opened and eleven years afterwards the building of the present chapel was commenced and finished. This was the first place of religious worship to be built in Attleborough. As Baptists we have reason to be proud of that fact, let the present generation not forget this fact, and let not the glory of the past outshine the glory of this present day.
Eleven years later, Manor Court Baptist Church, Nuneaton, was similarly founded, but the outreach came from Wolvey and Hinckley.
The picture at the top of this page was painted on the Sunday School 'New Centenary Banner' and shows what the original building was like. This is before what we now (2001) know as the carpet shop was built on the strip of ground in front of the church. more>>
*The Queens Road Baptist Church, Coventry website has more information about the Rev Francis Franklin and Cow Lane Church.
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