Peel Street Baps

Regular readers know how I like to visit other chapels and churches and often experience feelings of envy regarding others' buildings and carparks. Last month, I returned from a pastoral visit and had 40 minutes to wait in Accrington for the bus to Clitheroe and from thence Barnoldswick. I thought I should inspect the town’s Baptist church, which was located close by. An acquaintance was letting himself in, and bade me enter with him while he went about his business.

I came here for a service twenty years ago and probably could have stayed, but I was rather more Pentecostal then, and had a fondness for louder music and shorter, more repetitive songs. The chapel was originally built as the ‘Ebenezer Strict and Particular Baptist Church’, but I think it is now more properly described as a Reformed or Grace Baptist, owing an allegiance to the 1689 Confession of Faith. With its pastor I met for breakfast a couple of times in the past twelve months.

So why the envy? Salem Chapel is not unattractive, and its location is often admired. Peel Street in Accrington is close to the bus station, rail station and numerous town centre car parks. Vast stretches of housing sit within walking distance, and it is located between the East Lancashire conurbations by easy motorway access. God has been pleased to bless the Baptists of Accrington: although few would describe their location as beautiful, it is most certainly useful. Like so many of God's people.