Renhold Chapel facts for kids
Renhold Chapel is a special building where people who follow the Baptist faith gather for worship. It's located in the village of Renhold, in a county called Bedfordshire, England.
Contents
The Chapel's Story
Early Gatherings
Before the chapel was built, people who wanted to worship together met in different homes around Renhold village. About 50 to 60 people would gather for Sunday morning meetings. These meetings included prayers and sometimes a talk. They also had smaller meetings during the week in various cottages.
Finding a Place to Build
When the community decided to build a proper chapel, they needed land. They often visited Howbury Hall to ask for a piece of land. However, not everyone agreed with the idea. The local vicar (a leader in the Anglican Church) and Captain Polhill Turner, who owned most of the village and lived at Howbury Hall, were against it.
Building and Opening
Despite the challenges, Renhold Baptist Chapel was built in 1873. The first services took place on 16 September 1873. On that day, there was a Sunday school in the morning, followed by a prayer meeting. Then, afternoon and evening services were held.
George Laughton was the chapel's first secretary and also led the Sunday School. Later, when George Laughton moved to Canada, George Harlow took over both of these important roles. Over the years, the chapel has been updated and modernized to meet the needs of the community.
Celebrating Anniversaries
The chapel celebrated its 140th anniversary between 14 and 16 September 2013. This special event included a fun day for families in some local gardens. There was also an exhibition inside the chapel building that showed its history. On the Sunday morning, a family service was held. A Thanksgiving service took place on the Monday evening, following the tradition of Sunday and Monday services from the chapel's early days.
