| Administrative History | The Baptist cause in Belper was introduced in 1817 from Duffield, and the congregation became an independent church in 1823. An open public worship meeting was held in a room at the George and Dragon public house in Belper on August 24th 1817, conducted by a Brother Ingram, who acted as minister. All members were entered into one common roll. The geographical area of membership grew to such an extent that the Church divided in two, one group covering Wirksworth, Shottle and Cow House Lane; and the other Duffield, Windley, Milford and Belper. An appeal for a Chapel and burial ground at Belper was launched in 1818. This resulted in a Chapel being erected in Belper from land given by a Mr Hardy. Thereafter, meetings and communion alternated between Duffield and Belper. No opening date is recorded for the chapel, but its first anniversary was on March 19th 1820. In the following year, a further division occurred and two separate churches were established at Duffield and Belper. |