Baptists in Barton-le-Clay

In 1803 an application was made to register the dwelling house of John Ward, farmer, in the parish of Barton as a place of public worship for the use of protestant dissenters. The application was signed by John Ward (mark), Robert Pilter, William Davis, William Boustrad, John Wingrave and William Prior.

In 1821 an application was made to register the barn in the occupation of William Brown in the parish of Barton as a place of occasional public worship for the use of dissenters from the Church of England the application was signed by William Brown, Joseph Brown, James Blott and William Blott.

Ecclesiastical Census

On Sunday 30th March 1851 a census of all churches, chapels and preaching-houses of every denomination was undertaken in England and Wales. The local results were published by Bedfordshire Historical Records Society in 1975 as Volume 54, edited by D. W. Bushby. The return for Barton Particular Baptist church noted the following pieces of information:

• The church had 224 sittings (160 free, 64 other).
• The general congregation had been 109 in the morning, 136 in the afternoon and 73 in the evening.
• Sunday scholars had been 53 in the morning and 51 in the afternoon.

List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives:

• X704/63: BARTON: Hope Strict Baptist Chapel. Services – Posters, 1952-1962