Stoney Street Baptist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stoney Street Baptist Church |
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The building that was once Stoney Street Baptist Church.
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| 52°57′08″N 1°08′29″W / 52.952295°N 1.141293°W | |
| OS grid reference | SK 57770 39766 |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1799 |
The Stoney Street Baptist Chapel was a Baptist church on Plumptre Place Road in Nottingham, England. Because of its historical importance, it is now a Grade II listed building. This means it is protected by law.
Over the years, the building has had many uses. After it was a church, it became St. Mary's Schools. Today, it is used as a commercial building for businesses.
Contents
History of the Building
The church's community, known as a congregation, first formed in 1775. They were a group of General Baptists from Nottingham. At first, they met in a building called the Methodist Tabernacle starting in 1783. But soon, they decided to build their own chapel, which they finished in 1799.
Disagreements and New Churches
During its time as a church, the Stoney Street community had several major disagreements. These splits, called schisms, led to members leaving to start new churches.
The First Split in 1817
A big argument happened in 1817 that split the church. A new young minister named Catton was on a trial period. He was accused of behaving badly, and rumors quickly spread.
The community took sides. The church leaders fired Catton. They told the main minister, Robert Smith, to take control of the church. But when he tried, Catton's supporters resisted. Smith and about one-third of the church members left. They went on to start the Broad Street Baptist Church.
The Second Split in 1849
Another disagreement happened in 1849. This time, it was about a church official who was also a butcher. He was accused of cheating customers by using unfair scales to weigh meat.
The church members argued about whether he should be suspended from his duties. This argument caused another split. The members who left formed the Mansfield Road Baptist Church.
The Final Split in 1875
A final split occurred in 1875. The exact reasons for this disagreement are not well known. However, it caused many members to leave and start the Woodborough Road Baptist Church. This left the Stoney Street chapel with very few members.
From Church to School
After the split in 1875, the Stoney Street church struggled. The area around it had become full of factories and businesses, so fewer people lived nearby. The church officially closed on September 18, 1887. Many of its remaining members joined the Woodborough Road Baptist Church.
The empty building was then changed into St. Mary's School. The architect Thomas Chambers Hine was in charge of the redesign. Later, in 1993, the building was damaged in a fire and had to be converted again for new uses.
