During the 16th and 17th century Bacup had a population of about 300 and nearly  all of these people lived in cottages on the hills. The chief means of earning a living at this time and the early 18th century was by Wooleen spinning.  Wholly domestic the work was carried out in their own cottages almost every cottage would have owned a spinning wheel. The spinning being carried out by the woman of the house and the children whilst the man operated the loom. At the end of the 18th centaury 1799 the first mill was built in Bacup and it was situated on the site were the now empty derelict bingo hall now stands once the Regal cinema. With the coming of the industrial revolution  came a rise in the population in Bacup a cluster of houses sprung up at the bottom of Lane Head Lane which was at this time the main road to Todmorden and Yorkshire  later the area would become known as Hempsteads. St Johns church had been built in 1788 prior to this the nearest established church was St Nicholas at Newchurch pictured left with no main roads as we know them today to Burnley or Rochdale  a trip to church for a Baptism, Marriage or Burial meant a whole days trip over exposed and often harsh Moorlands. A footpath crossed the hills from Heald, passing Doals, and  through the Broadclough estate. Passing through Edgeside and Bridleway which bore the name Th' Kirk Gate. The distance being considerable caused much inconvenience   to parishioners having to carry the dead so far over an irregular and exposed track. The dominating force of religion in Bacup at this time was the Nonconformists. The Baptists started about 1700 and the Methodists in 1746 a building had been built in the centre of Bacup on the site of the present day Mechanics Institute about 1692 as a meeting place for Protestant Dissenters. During the latter part of the 17th century a few protestant dissenters were to be found in Rossendale. These men were stalwarts in the cause of conscience and religious liberty. They met for worship on private houses and in times of severe persecution they met at night in secluded glens. They were ministered by internerant preachers the chief of who were two cousins. William Mitchell and David Crossley who were both natives of Heptonstall in  West Yorkshire.  It was here that what became known as the " Church of Christ in Rossendale " was organised and where the scattered dissenters were consolidated into a distinct church, though it was not until 1710 that the church definitely adopted Baptist principles. David Crossley became the pastor of the Bacup church after many years of wandering and remained here until his death in 1744. Dissension was created in the church as to which two church members should succeed David Crossley as pastor, one party choosing Henry Lord and the other Choosing David Piccop. The Lord party continued to use the old meeting house built in 1746 whilst the Piccop party built a new meeting in Lane Head ( Ebeneezer ). In 1788 the building of St Johns Church on what was then known as Church Street, today we know it as Burnley Road, was completed and on the 16th August 1788 Dr Cleavey performed the consecration.

John Maden a young man from Bacup heard a man named William Darney preach at Gawksholme  and invited him to come a preach in Bacup, Darney agreed and came and preached at Madens home Heap Barn farm at Sharneyford pictured right. But Darney was not recognised as a Methodist and as such Maden became the first leader of a religious class in Bacup.The Methodist doctrines were at variance with the Baptists and there was much contention. Particular Baptists were strong in Bacup at this time. It was a common occurrence for the preacher of a evening service to denounce the preacher of the morning. Since the old meeting house was shared by the Church of England it must have been very uncomfortable. About 1751 the Methodists were holding meetings in a cottage on the right hand side of Lane Head lane. Whilst the Particular Baptists held meetings in the area of King Street. Between 1820 and 1850 about 18 chapels had been built in Bacup or were being held in houses. Baptists, Methodists, Congregationalists, Primitive Methodists, and Catholics all began and grew during this period. All over the town houses were being opened up for meetings, often it began with someone having a desire to help children. The education of working class children being nil. In Bacup the meeting houses began in places like Earnshaw road, Union street, Irwell street and Market street. After a short while the houses became to small and they had to have larger accommodation.  As the industrial revolution flourished and more and more mill hands poured into the area they would join themselves to one or another place of worship. It wasn't all sweetness and light however ad there was a fair amount of backsliding as some of the new members were not keen on living a Christian life.  Thorn Wesleyans was built because the small ragged school in Union St began to increase in numbers as they were unable to get seats at Mount chapel. Another factor was many of those that attended the ragged school had not the clothing needed to dress appropriately for the other chapels. Those who could dressed in their Sunday best with clean hands, faces and minds. churches were now respectable places. Many working class didn't attend church as they had no Sunday best clothes and you just didn't go to church in your working clothes. It was not until 1882 when the Salvation Army appeared that the poorer working person could attend religious service without having to worry about their dress.

YMCA

 In addition to the recognised churches and chapels in Bacup there existed various other smaller religious groups. In 1862 the YMCA had rooms in Newchurch Rd, near Bacup station and they were one of the first groups to offer services to the destitute. These services were conducted by the town missionary Mr James Andrews, and commenced in October 1862 with only 5 people. However the numbers increased to the state of overflowing with many people not having attended a religious service for many years. Attendances dwindled when Spring with its lighter nights. Some people getting better clothing went to regular churches whilst others didn't like to be seen in their indifferent clothing. The YMCA had a reading room, library and public lecture room, with bible classes and Sunday schools for children. A ragged school was also opened for destitute children  and the average attendance was about 100. The YMCA closed down in the 1890's.

The Hallelujah Band

Another group was called Hallelujah Band they came originally from Sheffield and held services in the Co-op Hall in 1866 they were all working class and in some respects were a forerunner of the Salvation Army. Their meetings were always crowded and they went through the streets singing hymns and they were most certainly unpopular with the other religious bodies in Bacup.

Unitarians

In 1864 the Unitarians began to hold services in Market Street in the rooms  vacated by the Catholics. They had previously held some meetings in the public hall and built a church in Waterfoot in 1864. They continued to hold services in Bacup but failed to become established.

Mormons

The Mormons first came to Bacup in 1873 and in 1894 they were giving lectures in the Mechanics, but were unable to make much headway in Bacup.

National Secular Society

The leader of this society was a Mrs Besant, in 1880 they gave lectures in the Co-op Hall. They made very little impression.

The Blue Ribbon Mission - Gospel Temperance Mission

Two branches of what was at the time a great attempt to curb the prevalence of drunkenness in the town. Many of the chapels were associated with them. There were missions at Greenend, Rockliffe, Lee Mill , in the 1890's. Most of them eventually declined or were absorbed into other religious bodies. Many of the members of these societies came for the company warmth and acceptance alongside the friendship offered.