Gildersome Baptist Church                 *Under Construction*                           

The History of the Baptist Church at Gildersome ​is best read from the from the book of the same name. Compiled by William Radford Bilbrough and published in 1888. This copy was in the safe in the office of Gildersome Baptist Church. The church wardens were kind enough to let me photograph the pages with my digital camera. The lighting was bad and I was in a rush so I missed a page or two and others are blurry. Oops! It's a big file and takes a little bit of time to load and it's not searchable; Sorry!  Click on the cover page

Below are three drawings of the Baptist Church taken from the pages of the "History" and they depict the evolution of the church as it was originally built in 1749 (Old Church) and after it was rebuilt in 1866 (New Chapel and Memorial Hall).
​                                                                           Click on a pic to expand.

Old Chapel 1749

New Chapel 1866

Memorial Hall 1866

****NOTE: ****
Someone stole the Gildersome Baptist Church Book from the late 1700s to Early 1800s. If you stole it or have have possession of it or if you know where it is, please return it to the West Yorkshire Archives Service or  contact me (bilbrough1@mac.com). No questions asked!

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From 'The History of Gildersome' by Philip Henry Booth:

"The Baptist Church at Gildersome is one of the oldest Baptist Churches in the country. Wheater in his pictures of old Leeds says that an Anabaptist preacher named Jeremy Marsden held an assembly at Gildersome on Oct. 6th 1663. In 1706 land was bought, on which a chapel was erected in 1707, and worship was conducted in alliance with Rawdon until the year 1749 when a separate church was formed under the pastorate of the Rev. John Tommas. In 1754 Mr. Tonunas removed to Bristol, and in 1755 Thomas Ashworth was ordained. He was followed by the Rev. James Ashworth in 1770, and we are told that during his ministry the Church was in a flourishing condition. The Rev. William Tate followed in 1797 or 1798 and served until 1800. James Brooks succeeded in 1801 and remained until early in 1806. Both Mr. Tate and Mr. Brooks became Unitarians. In 1807 William Scarlett of Hull became Pastor and he continued his ministry until his death in 1841. The Rev. R. S. Frearson followed in 1843, but his pastorate was short, only lasting until 1846. In 1850 the Rev. John Sargent took charge but he resigned in 1856. From that time, until 1861, there was no settled minister, but in that year the Rev. John Haslam accepted a call, and entered on his work in 1862. His ministry extended over the long period of 35 years, during which a new Chapel, a commodious Sunday School, and a Manse were built. In 1898 the Rev. G. M. Rice took up the work, but in 1904 he removed to Brisbane, Queensland, and was followed in 1905 by the Rev. Harold Spooner, the present Pastor.
The present chapel was opened on August 2nd, 1866.

List of Baptist preachers who officiated at Gildersome, and of recognised Pastors.
​
1663-1749  Jeremy Marsden, William Mitchell, Thomas Dewhurst, John Wilson, Nathaniel Booth and others.
1749-1754  John Tommas.
1755-1769  Thomas Ashworth.
1770-1797  James Ashworth (nephew to Thomas).
1797-1800  William Tate.
1801-1806  James Brooks.
1807-1841  R. S. Frearson.
1850-1856  John Sargent.
1862-1897   John Haslam.
1898-1904  G. M. Rice.
1905              Harold Spooner.

Copy of the Call of the Church to the Rev. John Tommas.

“To Our Dearly Beloved Brother in the Lord the Revd. Mr. John Tommas –
We whose names are here under-written, having had Sufficient time for ye Due trial of your Ministerial Gifts and Christian Conversations ammongst us; and finding abundant Reason to Approve of them, and to be thankful to the Father of Mercies, and God of all Grace on Your Behalf.

We do now as with one Heart and Soul, jointly and Unanimously Cordially and freely, Desire and Intreat Call and Invite You to fix your Settlement with us at Gilderson, in ye work of the Ministry of the Gospel of Christ.

​And upon the Receit of our Dismition, which so Many of us are Members there have Requested and Expect from the Church at Rawden, in order to sit Down to gather as a Church of Christ in this place; it is our further desire and Request, that You would please (with ye Consent of the Church to which you Belong) to joyn Yourself as a Member with us, in order to take ye Pastoral Care and Charge over us in the Lord: in which good work, we hope by the Grace of God that it shall be our daily Prayer and Joint Endeavour, that you may Meet with all proper Encouragement from us, and with all needful help, Assistance and Blessing from ye Lord of ye Harvist for Your Comfort and our Mutual Good unto Edification.             Signed:

Below is from the First Church Book begun in 1749, including signers to the Covenent.

Church Book beginning 1834

William Hudson.
​Joshua Smith.
Miles Oddie.
Grace Crowshay.
Daniel Crowshay.
Mary Oddie.
Joseph Turton.
Tamar Turton.
John Redfean.
James Proctor.
Mary Midgly.

Joseph Booth.
Han Stead.
Mary Proctor.
Abraham Appleyard.
Mary Proctor Younger. Hannah Booth.
Jerry Newton.
John Spawton.
Joseph Atkinson.
Sarah Booth.
Samll. Walker.

John Gant.
Thomas Dodgson.
Wm. Hudson, Junr. Edmund Ward.
Obeh. Smith.
William Overend.
Saml.l Pearson.
X Sarah Plows .
Jos. Popplewell.
X Susanah Scott.
X Sarah Revil, her Mark. 

Moses Cliff.
X Hanah fenton, her Mark. Benjamin Ellis.
William Midgley.
Joseph Watson.
Han. Nettleton.
Robert Watson.
Jhan Smith
Abram Watson.
John Booth.
John Taylor.​

Martha Vickers.
Jacob Hudson.
Samuel Perigo.
Nathaniel Booth.
Mary Popplewel.
Samuel Gilpin.
John Ruhman.
J. Sanderson
William Dixon.
Joseph Lax.” 

New Chapel 1866​

​Opening of the New Organ, May 1868      

Pulpit in front, Choir behind. Organ behind 25.

1. William Ellis
​5. Henry Booth
9. Wm Thornbury 
​13. Walter Ellis
​17. Unknown 
​21. Mary Booth ⁴ 
​25 Saml Crowther⁸

2. Rev John Sargent
​6. Geo Richardson
10. George Webster
14. Ann Eliz. Garlick ¹
​18. Caleb Crowther
​22. Louisa Crowther ⁵

3. James Bilbrough
​7. Oliver Holliday
11. James Foster
​15. Sarah Bilbrough ²
​19. Edward Crowther
​23. Wm Richardson ⁶

4. John Calvert
​​8. Rev John Haslem
​12. John Whitley
​16. Mary Ann Crowther³
​20. Thomas Crowther
​24. Harry Booth ⁷

     ¹ Mrs Tom Bellwood  ² Mrs P. Tempest  ³ Mrs William Bilbrough  ⁴ Mrs Sam Grayshon  ⁵ Mrs Wm Jewitt
​⁶ Blower  ⁷ Organ Builder  ⁸ Organist

Inside the New Chapel

Rev. John Haslem delivered a Memoriam on the occasion of William Hudson Bilbrough's Death in 1891 . Click here to read the published version.