The church
known as Piccop's "New Meeting," house built at Lane
Head was in a weak condition at the time of Mr
Piccop's death, but fortunately was not long without a pastor,
John Hirst, a member of the Baptist Church at Accnngton, was appointed
pastor and commenced his duties in 1773.
By 1777 the congregation had largely increased and a larger meeting house
was erected at a cost of £400.00, all of which was promised before the
building started.
By 1810 still more room was needed and this was met by the building of a
new chapel which was opened in 1812 and under this chapel a room was
provided for a Sunday School. By this time Mr. Hirst had become very
feeble and it was only with great difficulty he continue his pastoral
work. Towards the end of his life, determined to preach, he had to be
carried into the pulpit and though not able to stand he addressed the
congregation from his "preaching chair". He died in 1815 after a devoted
and successful ministry of 42 years. The Rev. W. J. Dyer succeeded Mr.
Hirst in 1816, but in 1821 Mr. Dyer and about half the members seceded
and formed a second church later known as Irwell Terrace.
After the
breakaway to form Irwell Terrace the following thirty years where
fairly quiet. The pastors of the church were the Revs. G. A. Grant,
John Edwards and Simpson Todd.
During Mr Grant's pastorate a
new School was built. Mr Edwards did good solid work during
his ministry of 12 years. Mr Todd was a fervid evangelist who made a
great impression and a considerable number joined the church during
his somewhat brief pastorate.In 1848, following Mr. Todd, came the Rev. Jonas Smith and his
pastorate was marked by much good and solid work.
In 1849 an additional schoolroom
was provided. In 1851 the church opened a meeting room and Sunday School
at Millgate. Here at Millgate the work so progressed that in 1858 a
chapel was built at a cost of £1,100, and in later years this was
superseded by a larger and finer chapel with a beautiful school, and the
Millgate church has been a separate church for many years. In 1861 a
Sunday School was started at Deerplay and the work prospered. In 1862 a
chapel was built and in 1867 Doals became a separate church.
In 1864 the roof of the Ebenezer chapel was found to be insecure, and
for 20 months the church worshipped at the Co-operative Hall. The old
chapel was converted into a school and was used as a school and chapel
until the building of a new chapel in 1868-1870. This new chapel cost
£6,000, all of which was raised within two months of the opening
services. The close of Mr. Smith's ministry was clouded by church
troubles respecting doctrinal views. In 1874 Mr. Smith ceased to be the
pastor. He and a number of members withdrew from the church and
ultimately formed the Mount Olivet Baptist Church. In 1878 the Rev. W.
Gay became pastor of the Ebenezer Church, and after labouring with great
earnestness for four years he resigned in 1882.
Pastor Jonas Smith
1848 - 1874
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Rev William Gay
1878 - 1882
After the Rev. W.
Gray had left Ebeneezer he was followed two years later, by the
Rev. F Overend, who was appointed in 1884 1887 a unique re-union of past
and present Ebeneezer scholars took place when nearly 2000 persons
partook of tea In 1890 the church established two mission rooms.
One was at Rockliffe which was carried on for some time and then
discontinued. The other was under the infant school on Newgate.
Ebeneezer Infant
School
In 1895 the church was honoured in having one of its deacons. Mr. George
Shepherd, elected as Moderator of the Lancashire and Cheshire
Association of Baptist Churches, and in 1900 Mr. Overend was elected to
the same office. In 1910 the church celebrated its bicentenary, and at
that time there were nearly 300 members and 460 Sunday School
scholars. Mr. Overend retired in 1921, after having served the church as
its pastor for 37 years. Mr. Overend had given the church devoted and
faithful service and had won the respect of not only those who were
connected with the church, but of many of the citizens in the town where
he was a familiar figure. 1922 saw the appointment of the Rev. F. ].
Peach as the next pastor. Mr. Peach, who came straight from college, was
not a sensational preacher but was steady, quiet and sincere in all he
said and did, and made a particular impression on the young people of
the church. One innovation during his pastorate was the election of four
lady deacons in 1926, Mr. Peach resigned the pastorate in 1930 to take
up a similar post with a church in Birmingham, The next pastor of the
church was the Rev. H. Brindley, who came from a church at Bradford, and
commenced his duties at Ebenezer early in 1933. On the 2nd September in
the following year the evening service at Ebenezer was broadcast by the
B.B.C. In the North Regional programme, and this was the first time that
a service had been Broadcast from a church in Rossendale, A large
congregation assembled and Mr. Brindley gave an arresting address.
Towards the end of the 1930s extensive repairs and renovations had to be
carried out to the chapel. Attendances were dwindling and many of the
young people were being called up to military service and the church's
bank account was overdrawn. The matter was discussed with Mr. Brindley,
who generously offered to accept a reduction in salary. Towards the end
of 1941, however, the church, most reluctantly, decided it had no other
option but to terminate Mr. Brindley's appointment as pastor on account
of the financial situation.
The last services at Ebeneezer were on the 28th October 1962.
Pastor Frederick Overend
1884 - 1935
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