MOUNT OLIVET BAPTIST CHAPEL

LYDGATE

by Ken Sutcliffe

There was clearly a serious division amongst the Lineholme members in 1859, the exact nature of which is unknown, because 50 men and women as well as 79 Sunday School scholars left the Church to form a breakaway group at Lydgate which is no more than a few hundred yards away. Presumably there was some kind of doctrinal difference because the first entry in the record of Lydgate expresses the hope that "strifes and divisions might be over-ruled for the furtherance of the Gospel."

	Beginning in rented rooms, in cottages, and ARCH VIEW PICKER WORKS, the Chapel on the hillside was dug out by the members themselves from 1865. The building was remarkable in one respect: only the gallery had pews for worship, the ground floor holding forms for the Sunday School. Preaching must have been an odd experience

A strong Church with numerous activities and a particular reputation for music was built up. Lydgate also strongly supported foreign missions. Marshall, Greenwood, Barker, Helliwell, Newell and Clegg are frequently occurring names amongst the membership. The 1909 Jubilee Souvenir contained intricate detail of the relationships between the members. (One would have to contact the Baptists at Roomfield or various archives to locate a copy of this now.)

The usual pattern of decline ensued in the 20th century and from 1946-60 pastorates were shared with Vale, and from 1964 with Roomfield. In 1966 the Church was closed and the members absorbed into Roomfield.

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