Renhold Chapel facts for kids
Renhold Chapel is a special building where people who follow the Baptist faith gather for worship. It is located in the small village of Renhold, which is in Bedfordshire, England.
History of Renhold Chapel
Before the chapel was built, people in Renhold held their Sunday meetings in different homes. About 50 to 60 people would come together for these gatherings. They would have prayer meetings and sometimes listen to a talk. There were also smaller meetings during the week in various cottages.
Building the Chapel
As more people joined, they needed a bigger place to meet. So, the community decided to build a proper chapel. Finding land for the chapel was not easy. They visited Howbury Hall many times to ask for a piece of land.
Not everyone agreed with the idea of building a new chapel. The local vicar from the Anglican Church and Captain Polhill Turner were against it. Captain Polhill Turner lived at Howbury Hall and owned most of the village.
Despite these challenges, Renhold Baptist Chapel was built in 1873. The very first services were held on September 16, 1873. That day included a Sunday school, a prayer meeting, and two worship services. George Laughton was the first secretary and also led the Sunday School. Later, George Harlow took over these roles when Laughton moved to Canada. Over the years, the chapel has been updated and changed to keep it modern.
Celebrating the Chapel's History
The chapel celebrated its 140th birthday between September 14 and 16, 2013. There was a fun family day held in some local gardens. The chapel building also hosted an exhibition showing its history. On Sunday morning, there was a special family service. A Thanksgiving service was held on Monday evening, just like in the chapel's early days.
