Attendees : All Welcome

Location : TBA

Time : 10 AM – 4:30 PM

Attendees : All Welcome

Location : Trinity Baptist Church, Charlesworth

Time : 10 AM – 4:30 PM

Trinity Baptist Church’s newly minted Pastor Benedict Allmand-Smith kicked the day off with a
thorough treatment of chapter six of the Second London Baptist Confession, on sin, the fall, and
the punishment thereof. Pr. Benedict looked at the state in which man was created, the nature of
the covenant of works, before elucidating the consequences for all of humanity of Adam’s failure to
keep it. He answered thorny questions such as how it is that we inherit the guilt of Adam’s first sin
and the justice of God in doing so. Pr. Benedict is a credit to the International Reformed Baptist
Seminary which trained him, and from which he recently graduated with a Masters in Divinity. Those
interested can find a recording on the Association’s website: www.acbcuk.org.

Following this, Er. Darrin Gilchrist lectured on the life of the great Welsh Particular Baptist Joseph
(Gomer) Harris. A seldom known figure today, Gomer Harris was a Confessional Baptist who
founded the first ever Welsh speaking newspaper, was a bulldog for the truth of the orthodox faith in
Wales, as well as being a faithful Pastor of several decades.

After a lunch of pulled pork, the meeting reconvened to hear from the messengers of the six
churches. The first thing each messenger shared was the current state of the church’s ministry,
which Scripture has been preached on the Lord’s Day, and which has been studied in midweek
meetings. The reports largely consisted of encouragements as churches report expanding
membership rolls.
The day concluded with the business meeting, where there was much discussion over how to
support the work of Reformed Baptist Missions abroad and sharing the various practices of the
member churches in fencing the Lord’s Table.

The association will be meeting next on 3rd of February, at Stanley Park Church, Liverpool.
Acclaimed historian Dr Rober Strivens will give an address on chapter seven of the Confession, on
God’s covenant. If you are curious to find out more about the work of this association, you’d be
more than welcome to join us, even if only to sit in and find out more.

Countesthorpe Baptist Church
On behalf of the Association of Confessional Baptist Churches UK

“This section was largely written from the information in a small document entitled, ‘History of Charlesworth’ from the safe in the building. It is undated and unsigned.”

Christian worship in Charlesworth stretches back into the Middles Ages. In the seventeenth century the area benefited from the labours of “the apostle of the High Peak”, William Bagshawe. Top Chapel has been a non-conformist work for over 350 years.

The Baptist witness in Charlesworth began when four men were baptised at Moorside Farm, in a barn, by William Gadsby in October 1816. The early years of the fledgeling church were unsteady and difficult. Eventually, under the pastoral leadership of George Beard, the work became more established, and the Particular Baptist Chapel was built in 1835. They were able to build the Chapel because of a growth in numbers two years previously; in 1833, the membership went from 11 to 17. This came from a number leaving Top Chapel (the congregational church 500 yards up the hill) because the pastor of that place who was originally a “Calvinist of the old narrow type” had “lost much of that harsh, narrow exclusiveness” (From ‘Memorials of Charlesworth’ quoted in the document above mentioned). This led some of the members of that church to leave and join the Particular Baptists. At the end of George Beard’s pastorate, in 1853, the registry shows the membership to be at 25. 

In January 1857, George Drake became the pastor of the church, and he remained until February 1863. It appears that he established better order in the church by having articles of faith printed and supplied to members, and also by ensuring measures were taken to guard the table. In 1862, the membership was at 33. In October 1868, a new pastor is appointed. His name was James Hand. In that year, the membership increased from 21 to 27, but by 1873, it was down to 25. 

What happened in the following years is poorly documented. By August 1893, there were only 3 members, presumably with no pastor. Some were added in the following years, and a new pastor, Mr Merrett, was appointed in November 1913. Of the following years, up till 1983, there is little known by this author. 

Declension

The challenges seemed to have continued through the latter half of the 20th Century. In 1983, the church had 14 members and an acting minister. They met twice on a Sunday and no other time. They did no outreach. The church dwindled in the next 7 or 8 years down to 8 members, and the minister was one of those who left. Soon, the church had a visiting preacher schedule, and one particular minister who led a mid-week Bible study and engaged in some outreach activities. Attendance rose, but soon it declined again to between 4 and 9. At this point, in 2004, Martin Grubb took up the pastorate. 

Rejuvenation

Under the oversight of Grace Baptist Church, Stockport, Martin Grubb was called in 2004 to engage in evangelistic work in the area. This included leafletting the area regularly, door-to-door visitation, a variety of evangelistic meetings including men’s breakfasts, BBQ’s, lectures and presentations on historical or topical themes, and regular input into the village school.

Over the years a very large number of people had been contacted, significant numbers had attended events, and there had been a small but encouraging harvest of local convert. It was considered right, in 2011, for a new church to be constituted in Charlesworth with twelve members. Two new members were quickly added through baptism, with a family from Grace Baptist Church, Stockport, joining the church soon after, taking the membership to nineteen.

Frustration 

Sadly, it was at this time in 2011 that the church began to experience a period of significant trial with the departure of 3 couples over a period of 3 years. Martin Grubb resigned from his office as elder. 

Revitalization

Under the circumstances, the church deemed it unwise to continue as a self-governing congregation and accepted Trinity Grace Church, Ramsbottom’s offer of coming under their wing of support. This entailed the membership of Trinity Baptist Church (TBC) being subsumed into that of TGC. It was understood that this situation was less than ideal, but the alternative appeared bleak. At this time, TGC set aside one of their elders, Rob Stredder, to work full-time. Rob was commissioned by TGC to spend half his working hours in Charlesworth, ministering to the church and evangelising the community, and TBC paid half his salary. Under his ministry, four more were added to the church, yet sadly one has fallen away. A few years after Rob started, Brett Shaw came over from America for a short-term placement in the UK (3 years), and he was situated in TBC with his family where he preached and served. Rob and Brett ministered in the church until the summer of 2023. 

Reconstitution

In the autumn of that same year, Benedict Allmand-Smith was proposed by TGC to be trainee minister in TBC, under their oversight. TBC voted to appoint him as such for two years. The church had been well-established in good doctrinal truth as well as united in Christian love under the ministry of Rob and Brett. Consequently, it was not long until the congregation was in a position to reconstitute as an independent church. On 20th September 2023, TGC formally voted to commend TBC for independence, and on 3rd October 2023, TBC voted to once more become an independent church. 

On the 3rd March, Martin Allmand-Smith and Samuel Grubb were voted by the church to take office as deacons. This marked a seminal moment in the church’s recent history, as it has been over twenty years since it had more than one officer. On 11th May 2024, the church held a special meeting of thanksgiving in celebration of God’s merciful protection over difficult years and providential nurturing unto re-establishing as independent. On 18th November 2024, hands were laid on the deacons in formal commemoration of their being set aside to office. 

Association

It was Martin Grubb who first invited Dr. James Renihan to the UK in 2011 to give a series of lectures on Baptist symbolics. These lectures took place in the chapel building. Due to the difficulties which arose in the church, Martin was unable to superintend to fruition what he had started. Nevertheless, this intention was led forward by others, and on 7th March 2023, an inaugural assembly took place where an Association of Confessional Baptist Churches was established. On 11th May 2024, TBC was pleased to join this Association. The members have been thoroughly involved in the meetings of the Association and have been encouraged with the inter-church fellowship unto mutual edification.

Countesthorpe Baptist Church
On behalf of the Association of Confessional Baptist Churches UK

The next two association meetings are to be held on:

Tuesday 13th May 2025 : Trinity Grace Church, Ramsbottom
Saturday 27th September 2025 : Countesthorpe Baptist Church, Leicester

The fog of time has shrouded much of the history of nonconformity in the village of Countesthorpe prior to the 18^th century. All the sources available to us identify the first Dissenter in the village as Mr John Gumley, who as a teenager attended the famous Baptist Church at Arnesby – the same chapel of Robert Hall fame. Apparently, he was the only nonconformist in Countesthorpe until his death in 1790. For whatever reason, many of the sources feel the need to mention that though he was a godly man, he boasted only ‘modest talents’.

Happily, Mrs Burley started a prayer meeting of Dissenters the same year Mr Gumley departed for glory. Sometime between 1790 and 1810, a building was erected for the use of the little band of Dissenters. This was rebuilt in 1829 as the current Sunday School Room. Until 1860 the church appears to have been an extension of the church at Arnesby, with no minister of its own or formal independence. Mr William Bassett is floating around the records during this era, as a supporter of the Baptists in Countesthorpe, but with a wider local ministry. In 1860 when Mr Basset died, one Rev Thomas Rhys Evans took the reins of oversight at Countesthorpe, while supporting a Rev Shem Evans at Arnesby. The author’s suspicion is that these suspiciously Welsh-sounding men were brothers, whose fraternal bond is a good metaphor for the relationship between the Baptist at Countesthorpe and Arnesby well into the mid-19^th century.

In 1863, Countesthorpe Baptist Church achieved its independence with the aforementioned Evans as its first Pastor. Independence was marked with the construction of the current chapel, which owing to the zenith of Victorian economic might, was completed with no debt against it. Immediately the church settled into a pattern of gradual expansion with the work of the Sunday school prospering and the premises expanding into the early 20^th century.

Like much Christianity across the English speaking world, the 20^th century saw the church slide comfortably into liberalism and nominalism, which was only briefly interrupted by the Toronto blessing in 1994. From 1863 to the 1990s the church membership appeared to be approximately static, although it was undoubtedly greater prior to the Great War, based on photographic evidence from the period.

In 2005, a small evangelical party in the church managed to persuade the church to permit Aubrey Vaughan to become the Pastor, after the church had been without a full-time elder for almost a decade. Mr Vaughan hailed from Bethel Church in nearby Wigston, whose origins are in the Evangelical Free movement. During his tenure the Gospel was reintroduced to the life of the church and in 2017 the church adopted a new Constitution, which affirmed the Baptists’ historic Confession of Faith as the express representation of the faith of Scripture. Mr Vaughan retired in 2025, and left behind a church whose lampstand had been restored.

With the loss of the church building, the emphasis for the early church’s continuance was a thriving Sunday school of sixty-plus children. Though there were men around, it was left to the few ladies to keep the work and Sunday school going. Meeting in homes was obviously unsuitable, so they held their regular times of worship in a car garage adjoining one of the church members’ homes. A large green curtain hung over the inside of the garage doors to keep out the draft, and two paraffin heaters, one at the front and one at the back of the garage.  Amazingly, they managed to fit in the piano as well as members and Sunday school children. The emphasis on the importance of the children’s work was also reflected in the new name, The Gospel Mission, which was adopted for the work at this time and due to no longer being associated with the Primitive Methodist circuit.

In 1957, Raymond Gregory, the Dundee Lane Congregational minister, who was already becoming disillusioned with Congregational liberalism, decided to lend a helping hand. Raymond severed his links with Dundee Congregational Church later and threw in his lot with Summerseat Gospel Mission, taking the title of Mission Superintendent.

During the next four years, there were many changes. From 1957 to 1961, Raymond’s ministry became more pastoral as more people were added to the Mission. Individuals were being converted mainly due to the use of Billy Graham films and other forms of evangelism. During this period, the car garage had been abandoned, and meetings were held for a brief time in the upstairs room of the local Liberal club. 1961 was a real turning point for the Mission, for in that year, Billy Graham held a crusade at Maine Road, Manchester and two young men were converted, from their witness, more conversions followed. That same year, the local Co-op closed down, which was now available for rent and which became our home for the next ten years.

In 1961, ladies still played a prominent and leading role in running the Mission, but by now, the prayer for young men was being answered, and the structure of the work began to change. Deacons and another elder were appointed. In the same year, the fellowship decided to join the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, and the Gospel Mission became Summerseat Independent Evangelical Church.

In the late 1960s, after a few years of fruitful ministry, Raymond was appointed Home Missions evangelist with the FIEC. A new pastor was appointed, but unfortunately, this did not work out, and in the space of a few years, we lost our rented Co-op building, our pastor, and a third of the congregation. There were times when the remaining few questioned whether it was worth continuing. In our church meeting on 7/9/74, we were down to just ten members. Despite these setbacks, God continued to add the ones and twos to our struggling fellowship. The fellowship continued to meet in members’ homes until one of the church members who owned a shop that they planned to sell offered us first choice at a reasonable price in the centre of Ramsbottom, and with the help of the FIEC and a secured loan, we branched out in faith to secure our new meeting place.

At the same time, Raymond felt that his work in Skelmersdale with Home Missions was nearing completion and that he needed to move on to new pastures. Fortunately for us, FIEC agreed for him to move on to establish a church in Walkden and, at the same time, help our work in Ramsbottom. Raymond’s ministry in Ramsbottom began to bear fruit, which resulted in Raymond leaving Home Missions and casting in his lot with a work that was nearer to his heart and with which he had strong connections. In the process of time, the shop premises adjoining our converted shop building also became available, and with planning permission, the two premises were made into one.

During Raymond’s second period of ministry in Ramsbottom, the church again began to prosper, especially through the conversion of young men and women who were keen to serve the Lord. In 1996, Raymond’s labours were taking their toll on his health, and as he was now reaching retirement age, and with his support and encouragement we decided to look for a new pastor.

Through the FIEC ministers accredited list, we were introduced to Mr Oliver Allmand-Smith. In the providence of God, our interest in Oliver coincided with our anniversary meetings. The speaker who was due to take those meetings was indisposed due to ill health, and fortunately for us, Oliver agreed to take our meetings. In the following church meeting, the church unanimously decided to call Oliver to be our next pastor.

From the very beginning of Oliver’s ministry, the structure and life of the church began to change. Oliver wasted no time bringing in positive changes and improvements, building on the foundation and ministry of Ray Gregory.  Through Oliver’s leadership, the elders began to meet on a more regular basis. There was much more emphasis on corporate prayer, particularly among the elders. We, as elders, could not get over the maturity and wisdom displayed by our young new pastor, who, at the time, was 26 years old. There were also more church meetings held regularly, which kept the church members informed and abreast of all the changes, but more importantly, allowed church members to voice their opinions and vote on important decisions. There was much restructuring and foundation-laying during Ray’s tenure, but Oliver recognized that there was still a long way to go in bringing the church’s structure onto a more reformed footing. Making the necessary changes required much wisdom and tact, as most church members did not fully appreciate and understand the nature of reformed theology.

For the church membership to appreciate and understand, and indeed, see the need for and importance of good, sound biblical theology, Oliver did a long and concentrated series of Bible studies based on The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689. These memorable studies provoked much thought and discussion and laid the basis for a much better understanding of reformed theology. These studies were repeated later, and in 2011, we made a very important decision as a church to adopt the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith as the basis of our statement of faith and become a confessional church.

The church premises continued to expand, with the acquisition of a third shop and an extension at the back of the building. The transfer from the auspices of the FIEC to the eventual formation of an Association of Confessional Churches was the next exciting development of the life of our local church. The name of our local church, Ramsbottom Independent Evangelical Church, was changed to Trinity Grace Church in 2015, which places greater emphasis on what we believe. “Trinity” because the chief purpose of the local church is to worship the triune God in Spirit and in Truth. “Grace” because the church exists to proclaim to all people the unmerited kindness of God to sinners through the Lord Jesus Christ. “Church” because we are committed to the edification and encouragement of our fellow brothers and sisters in love.

We are sometimes asked why we do not sell up and look for a plot of land and build our own church building. There are several reasons for not doing so. The main reason is that our present premises are situated in the heart of the town and on the main high street. It is also next to the Railway Station on the East Lancs Heritage line, which brings in many visitors so the public cannot miss us, especially when we have the caption in bold letters over the entrance: ‘Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’

Over the history of the church, we have had the privilege of seeing how the fellowship has grown not only numerically but also in the makeup of members from different cultural backgrounds. We have been blessed with much, and it has been a joy to share this by supporting other churches in the UK, and missions in many parts of the world. From its humble beginnings of just a handful of believers to the present-day membership, it is a testimony to the wonderful grace of God and an encouragement to those small groups of struggling believers that Christ will build his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.