Birchcliffe Chapel, Hebden Bridge

The closing half of the eighteenth century brought with it many changes in the rural population of this country, particularly in this area where the effects of the change from agricultural to dual economy and then industrial were most keenly felt. In religious matters especially, men began to take a more active part. First came John Wesley’s (1703-1791) secession from the established church and the formation of Methodism. From Methodism came Dan Taylor, (1738-1816) whose fearless thought gave rise to the New Connexion General Baptist Movement. He preached his first sermon to a congregation of four people under a tree at Nook, Wadsworth. Later in 1763 he preached to 14 in a house in Wadsworth Lanes. Through the combined efforts of the pastor and his flock they were able by 1764 to buy a piece of land and to build the first church at Birchcliffe at a cost of £140, the bulk of which was paid for from itinerant preaching by Dan Taylor. Dan Taylor left to go to a church in Halifax in 1783, but Zion continued to flourish. In 1792 they had to enlarge the gallery in the chapel at a cost of £100. By 1803 there were 63 members. However, there must have been some falling out amongst members because in 1806 42 members felt the need to form a separate church at Heptonstall Slack. But this did not daunt the remaining congregation as by 1818 there were 203 of them. By this time the chapel had become too small and various meetings were held to discuss enlarging it. This culminated in the erection of the next chapel which was opened on August 11th 1825.