History

The first Baptist Church in Wigan was in Lord Street (a parallel street to the current location of the church). This was opened in 1796. The small church did not initially have a baptistry with records describing baptisms in the nearby River Douglas.

A second Baptist Church was opened in the town centre in March 1827. Later this moved to King Street and on 4th May 1854 became known as King Street Baptist Church.

On 13th October 1853 the current church, known as Scarisbrick Street Baptist Church, was opened. There are records of a violent storm hitting the nearly completed church on Christmas Day 1852 reducing the building to rubble.

The two Baptist Churches in the town continued to develop with history recording in both, periods of prosperity and difficulties. Both Baptist Churches had good relationships with each other and often co-operated even though there were differences in doctrinal policy.

In October 1969 the King Street Baptist Church closed and amalgamated with Scarsibrick Street Baptist Church on the current site forming the Wigan Baptist Church.

In very recent years a series of letters has been discovered in Manchester which were written by Samuel Harris to John Brown during a period between 1820 and 1830. Samuel Harris was one of the very early settlers in the State of Indiana in the U.S. He wrote these letters from Indiana to his friend John Brown who was a member of the Lord Street Chapel in Wigan. The letters give an amazing insight into the life of the early settlers in the U.S. and also glimpses of life in Wigan and in the Lord Street Chapel. The letters are of great interest to historians on both sides of the Atlantic.

More details of the church history can be found in the booklet available in the church: Pathways to Faith, A history of Wigan Baptist Church 1796 - 1996 by Dr Ian Sellers.

A copy and explanation of the Harris letters is available at the church written by David Brady.