History of Diseworth Baptist Chapel
The history of Diseworth Baptist Chapel
records the enthusiasm and fervour of very many village people. The
Baptist Chapel has been established in the village for over 250
years, and in spite of religious persecution and theological
controversy on a national level at its commencement, has offered
evangelical witness since that time.
As the evangelical revival which led to the creation of the Baptist
Church in England and Wales in the early 1700’s was not without
controversy and religious persecution, this resulted in very few
public meetings and the ‘dissenting minsters’ as they were called
held their early meetings in the weaver’s shop, now known as
Lilly’s Cottage. There was so much opposition that their employers
could dismiss workers if it was discovered that they were attending
the preaching of dissenters. However, slowly and surely the
enthusiasm for the principles of the Baptist Church grew and in
August 1751 at the Assizes in Leicester the preachers sought and
obtained the protection of the law under the ‘Act of Toleration’ and
preachers were registered as Dissenting Ministers. Shortly after,
the small but keen group of followers in Diseworth took the decision
to build their own meeting-house. Land and accommodation was found
and Diseworth Baptist Chapel was erected in 1752.
A Victorian view of the Chapel
The Chapel in 1938
The restored Chapel in 2009
Subsequent generations continued the Baptist tradition in Diseworth, until the flooding of the Chapel in November 2000 finally made the building unsuitable for worship. Diseworth Heritage Trust then started campaigning to purchase the building and convert it into a Heritage Centre, and this dream has now been realised with the opening in 2009.
Read more about the history of the Chapel in the book by Nikki Hening