1821 A branch of Cow Lane . . .
At the beginning the congregation that gathered within the wa1ls of the Baptist Chapel were too poor to think of calling a minister. The building of the chapel had in all probability exhausted them financially, but God raised up a number of faithful men, who Sabbath by Sabbath walked from Coventry that they might proclaim the Everlasting Good News to the people of our village.
1840 ... then a church with its own minister
In 1840, the Chapel at Attleborough ceased to be a branch of Cow Lane, Coventry, and a church composed of six teen members was formed, who in true Apostolic succession adopted the New Testament as the rule of their faith and practice.
In the same year that the church was formed,
the Rev. John Spooner was called to the pastorate... The church found it hard to settle down to its new relationship; there were some criticisms on both sides, the strain of financial obligations was felt. (He was obliged to supplement his modest stipend of £40 per year by keeping a day school, which failed when the Trinity School opened in 1849.) The church was harased by well meaning people ... who sowed the seeds of discord in the hearts of the members. The pastor had his faults as all pastors have, and finally in 1854 the Rev. J. Spooner relinquished his post.
A changing village
Attleborough had been growing throughout the first half of the century, thanks to the silk industry. Holy Trinity Church was built in 1842. In 1859, the silk industry collapsed. There was much poverty. Cotton spinning had arrived in the nick of time as the Albion Mills opened on Attleborough Road in 1858.
1854 Pastorless and nearly shipwrecked
There now ensued a pastorless period of eighteen years. A number whose views inclined them towards hyper-Calvinism had broken away. The annals of Jireh Chapel record Thomas Brown and Robert Pope inviting Joseph Orton of Wolvey to meet with them in 1853 for worship
'as the old church has been
broken up and one by one they have come to worship with us'.
As a result, the Particular Baptist Chapel was
founded in 1858. The cause was nearly shipwrecked on the rocks
of dissention and trial. All honour to those who stood by the church
in those days, and brought her safely through. 1872 Safely through
In 1872, the Rev. I. Dixon became minister and continued in that office for about four years... There seems to have been nothing remarkable during this ministry, for such references as are available are very meagre... Despite the fact that 200 sat down to tea at the jubilee celebrations in 1872, only around 20 were present at communion services and the church struggled financially, appealing in 1873 to Cow Lane Church for assistance. Nevertheless, since 1871, there had been a New Building Fund. Rev Dixon took exception to one of the entertainments to raise money for this and resigned, becoming pastor of the church at Tamworth. more>>
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