Bank Street Unitarian Chapel facts for kids
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The Bank Street Unitarian Chapel is a special church in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. It's a place where people who follow the Unitarian faith come together to worship.
Contents
History of the Chapel
How the Chapel Started
The story of Bank Street Chapel began in 1672. A Presbyterian minister named Richard Goodwin started a group of worshippers in Great Bolton, Lancashire. He had been "ejected," meaning he was forced to leave his church because of new laws. But a special rule called the Royal Declaration of Indulgence allowed him to preach again.
Bolton was known for being a very religious town, especially for Puritans. During the English Civil War, enemies even called it the Geneva of the North. This was because it reminded them of Geneva, a city known for its strict religious rules.
When Richard Goodwin died in 1685, another minister named John Lever took over. He had also been forced out of his church. At this time, the group met in a building that later became a pub.
A New Home for Worship
Information about the next minister, Robert Seddon, is a bit mixed. He bought a house on Windy Bank, which later became Bank Street. He gave this house to the church group. Some say he died just before it opened as a chapel in 1696. Others say he lived to see it open and was the first minister there. After him, his nephew, Samuel Bourn, became the minister.
Changes in Beliefs
By the 1720s, the church group had grown to over 1,000 people. They first followed Presbyterian beliefs. But over time, they slowly started to follow Unitarian ideas. This change happened around the time Thomas Dixon junior was a minister.
This shift in beliefs caused some people to leave the church. They went to join another group at Duke's Alley. But many of the original families who had been part of the church since 1672 stayed.
Growing the Community
In 1789, the minister, John Holland, started a Sunday school and a library at the chapel. This helped the community learn and grow.
In 1821, the church group split because they disagreed about choosing a new minister. Some people stayed at Bank Street, while others went to a different place to worship. But in 1843, the two groups came back together again.
Like other Unitarian churches in cities like Liverpool and Manchester, the people who went to Bank Street Chapel were often very involved in politics and were important members of society. They were also very close-knit. Many families were connected through marriages, business, and friendships. For example, one minister, Franklin Baker, married into the Crook family, who were members of the church.
The Chapel Building
The first Bank Street building, given by Robert Seddon in the 1600s, was shaped like a "T". But in 1856, a new building was put up. It was designed by George Woodhouse. This new building still used three special doors from the old church pews.
Today, the building has a special plaque. It remembers the chapel's connection to the Eagle Street College. This was a group of local people who admired the writer Walt Whitman. The chapel and its school were some of the places where they met.
Ministers of Bank Street Chapel
Here are some of the early ministers who served the Bank Street Chapel:
- 1672-1685: Richard Goodwin
- 1689-1692: John Lever
- 1692-1696: Robert Seddon
- 1696-1720: Samuel Bourn (nephew of Robert Seddon)
- 1720-1722: Peter Withington
- 1723-1729: Thomas Dixon senior
- 1729-1750: John Buck
- 1752-1754: Thomas Dixon junior
- 1755-1789: Philip Holland
- 1789-1820: John Holland (nephew of Philip)
- 1821-1822: Noah Jones
- 1823-1864: Franklin Baker
- 1864-1873: Jeffery Worthington
- 1874-1895: Charles Clement Coe
- 1896-: Christoper J. Street
