| Title | Baptist Chapel 1712 – 1972 (1) |
| Date | c1712 |
| Location | Rawdon |
| Photo ID | R803 |
| Comment | The first clandestine Non-Conformist services to be held in Rawdon were in the shadow of Buckstone Rock, which is located behind the present day Club House of Rawdon Golf Club. |
It was a time when religious nonconformists were outlawed and risked breaking the law to hold services in the style the chose rather than follow the doctrine of the Church of England.
Worshippers had to meet secretly in hidden or out of the way locations and they met under the rock until the first Baptist Chapel was built in Cragg Wood around 1712 – 1715.
This photograph was taken in June 2019, by Edwy Harling.
P069 – Baptist Chapel, Cragg Wood, c1712.
Baptist Chapel Cragg Wood – c1712
A Line drawing of the Baptist Chapel built in Cragg Wood. It was the 1st of 3 Baptist Chapels to be built in Rawdon.
This drawing appears in the 250th anniversary booklet, (1715 -1965, Cragg Baptist Church, Rawdon). The location was very secluded, no doubt because of the persecution that local nonconformists, Quakers as well as Baptists once had to endure.
As there was more tolerance towards nonconformists, they could worship in more accessible locations. In the case of Rawdon Baptists on Micklefield Lane, close to the junction with Apperley Lane.
Graham Branston.
There is an orchid nursery on the site now, Mansell & Hatcher, Cragg Wood Nurseries, Woodlands Drive. (January 2013)
Donated by Ruth Ashton-Ward.
T19 – Baptist Chapel & Burial Ground, Undated.
Baptist Chapel & Burial Ground Cragg Wood – Undated
This was the 1st Chapel and burial ground in Cragg Wood, dating from 1712.
H047 – Baptist Burial Ground Plaque, 1712.
Baptist Burial Ground Plaque – 1712
Plaque which marked the site of the old Baptist Burial Ground in Cragg Wood.
E058 – Baptist Chapel, Micklefield Lane, 1765.
Baptist Chapel Micklefield Lane – 1765
A photograph of the 2nd Baptist Chapel built on Micklefield Lane in 1765, and replaced the 1st Chapel erected in 1712, in Cragg Wood.
Stone from the 1st Baptist Chapel (also known as the Buckstone Chapel) was used in its construction on Micklefield Lane and in 1891, it too was demolished to make way for the 3rd Baptist Chapel in 1892, located very near to the 2nd Chapel.
T17 – Baptist Chapel, 1765.
Baptist Chapel Micklefield Lane – 1765
A back view of the Chapel.
D151 – Baptist Chapel, Micklefield Lane, 1765.
Baptist Chapel Micklefield Lane – 1765
The second Baptist Chapel and graveyard on Micklefield Lane.
D153 – Baptist Chapel, 1765.
Baptist Chapel Micklefield Lane – 1765
The second Baptist Chapel and graveyard on Micklefield Lane, seen here after a sonowfall.
S143 – Baptist Chapel, Micklefield Lane, 1765.
Baptist Chapel Micklefield Lane – 1765
A view of the 2nd Baptist Chapel looking from Micklefield Lane. and demolished in 1892, when the 3rd Baptist Chapel was constructed adjacently.
N397 – Baptist Chapel, 1765.
Baptist Chapel Micklefield Lane – 1765
A view of the 2nd Baptist Chapel.
N398 – Baptist Ministerial College, 1859.
Baptist Ministerial College – 1859
The Baptist College was built on Woodlands Drive in 1859, the architect was J H Paul of Cardiff. The land had been owned by Robert Milligan, he refunded the Baptists half of the purchase price.
The building was designed in Victorian Gothic style and cost £1, 200 to erect.
The Rev. Dr. J. Ackworth was President 1836 – 1863, he was the father-in law of John Venimore Godwin, resident of Micklefield House.
Several streets off Harrogate Road were named after Dr. Ackworth.
The college closed in the 1970s, for a time it was used as accommodation for students from Trinity and All Saints College (Brownberrie Lane Horsforth, now a Leeds University Campus), in 1983 it was converted into 17 apartments and is now addressed as Larchmore. (October 2015)
Email from Graham Branston 10th March 2018.
Good morning Carlo,
Hope you are well. Just a couple of points relating to today’s image of the former Baptist College; one a correction, one an additional piece of info. The text that reads, “now Leeds University campus” should be amended to read “now Leeds All Saints University campus”. It has its own uni. status and is a separate H.E. body to Leeds Uni., though I think my old uni. still validates All Saints higher degrees. Once upon a time I did a bit of part time lecturing there. You probably know that All Saints was opened just over 50 years ago I think, by Shirley Williams when she was Secretary of State for Education.
The additional info. is that Sir Titus Salt attended the opening of the Baptist College. I know the lady whose sitting room was once the college chapel.
High regards as ever,
Graham Branston.
D152 – Baptist Chapel, Sunday School. 1884.
Baptist Chapel Sunday School – 1884
The Sunday School was built in 1884 for the 2nd Baptist Chapel.
Donated by Carol Hall.
T21 – Baptist Chapel, 1765.
Baptist Chapel – Undated
A view of the interior of the Chapel built in 1765.
D141 – Baptist Chapel, Graveyard, Undated.
Baptist Chapel Graveyard – Undated
The Baptist Chapel graveyard on Micklefield Lane.
The monument on the left is inscribed:
“In Affectionate Remembrance of Mary, wife of William Mitchell, wheel wright of Chapel Allerton, who died on October 2nd 1884 in her ? year”.
The middle grave is that of Isabelle, wife of John Smith.
The headstone on the right is for Benjamin Penny and his wife Sarah.
The Chapel closed in 1972 and was demolished in 1992, the site was then grassed over.
A318 – Baptist Chapel, Micklefield Lane, 1892.
Baptist Chapel Micklefield Lane – 1892
This is the 3rd Baptist Chapel on Micklefield Lane in 1892. The gate posts and walls were demolished during the Second World War. The Chapel continued to be used until the early 1970s when the Baptists, Congregationalists and Methodists combined to form Trinity Church.
F101 – Baptist Chapel, 1892.
Baptist Chapel Interior – 1892
Inside the 3rd Baptist Chapel on Micklefield Lane. The organ can be seen with the pulpit on the left.
R156 – Baptist Chapel, 1892.
Baptist Chapel Interior – 1892
Another view Inside the 3rd Baptist Chapel on Micklefield Lane. The organ can be seen with the pulpit on the left.
Previous Comments:
Re H047
facebook comments:
Ruth Ashton-Ward: Hi, this is the original plaque, do you know who took this photo and where it was, was it where our new one is now? Do you know? Wonder where it is now….
Nicholas Edward Davis: I have photographed this plaque in the past. It’s uphill from the old Mansell and Hatcher site, downhill from Cragg Wood Drive in a gatepost facing South East in a stone wall that runs South West – North East. Downhill to the left of the plaque stood a building, the other side of which are the remaining tombstones. You can see them on Google Earth.
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Consolidated by Jack Brayshaw. 29 January 2021.
Last updated: 19 October 2022 – All images updated. 05 February 2022 – Photo ID: H047.
