History
By Len Taylor
The church traces its beginning to 1776 when, in company with a group from Longford, the Hinckley and Longford Church was formed. The church was one of a number established in Leicestershire and neighbouring counties by a group of preachers based in Carlton. This group had originally formed themselves into a church on Methodist principles, at a time when the Methodist revival was in full flow, but they were later convinced of the truth of adult baptism.
The earliest meetings in Hinckley were held in the house of a Mr Dagley in Castle Street until in 1768 a Meeting House was built in Wood Street. On separating from the Longford Church in 1773 the membership was recorded as 38 and by 1782 this had increased to 80. William Smith had been appointed to lead the church in 1773 and when he died in 1797 the membership had increased to 180.
The continuing increase made the enlargement of the Meeting House essential. The erection of a gallery was considered but it was finally decided to erect a new building and the site of the present building was purchased. The church was opened in February 1807 costing between £1700 and £1800.
HBC 1908
Further buildings were added in 1894, 1920 and 1938. The 1894 halls were to increase the accommodation for the Sunday School where numbers had grown to over 500.
The vestibule at the front of the church was added in 1920 as a Memorial and Thanksgiving at the ceasing of the hostilities of World War 1 and in 1938 a Primary Room was added to the Sunday School Halls. It is the 1894 halls and the 1938 Primary Room which have been extensibly remodelled and refurbished under our Pathways Schemes to provide an increased space for community action.
During these 240 plus years the work and witness of the church has been maintained and a succession of worthy men have been invited to the pastorate with no break in succession save periods of interregnum whilst a new minister is sought. Sunday School (SALT) and Young People's activities have changed with the inevitable changes in society but, again, they have never ceased. Similarly meetings of various kinds for adults have had their rightful place in the church programme. Dedicated men and women continue to worship and serve the Lord Jesus Christ in this fellowship and we look forward to a continuing work and witness in His Name.