Ebenezer Chapel, Market Street, Hebden Bridge

The chapel was built in 1777. Seen here in use as the premises of the Hebden Bridge Times. This photo therefore predates its move to a new location in Crown Street in1979. The following text is taken from Looking Back at Hebden Bridge by Frank Horsfall & Terry Wyke The first church established by the Particular Baptists in Hebden Bridge was Ebenezer Chapel which was opened in 1777 due to the efforts of Rev. John Fawcett. Fawcett, who had previously been minister of the Wainsgate Chapel, was a leading figure in the Baptists movement and despite offers of more eminent posts he remained at Ebenezer until his death in 1817. His work at Brearley Hall and later at Ewood Hall to train men for the Baptist ministry led to the establishment of the Northern Baptist Education Society. John Foster, the essayist, was one of his best-remembered pupils. After his death the congregation at Ebenezer continued to grow and it was decided to erect a new chapel. Hope Chapel was opened in 1858 and the photograph shows Hope at around that time. However, the old chapel was not immediately closed down, it continued to be used as a Sunday School, and later as Hebden Hall it was a popular venue for public meetings. In the late 1880s it was occupied by the publishers, Kershaw and Ashworth, and for many years the Hebden Bridge Times was printed from these premises. In more recent times, this part of Market Street has been widened and the chapel graveyard has been tidied up, although sufficient stones remain to remind visitors to the antique shops, which now occupy the chapel, of the ancestry of one of Hebden Bridge’s historically important buildings.