Until the end of the 17th century there was no place of worship in Bacup the nearest was the Episcopal church in Newchurch or St Chads in Rochdale. There was no main roads as we know them today to Burnley or Rochdale and so 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.

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.

The first place built  as a religious meeting house for these protestant dissenters was erected in 1692 on the site of the present Bacup library.  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 tow 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.