Gildersome Baptist Church, Gildersome

Gildersome

Gildersome is a village and civil parish in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough 5 miles south west of Leeds city centre in West Yorkshire, England....

, West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....

, England, is one of the oldest churches within the Gildersome/Morley

Morley, West Yorkshire

Morley is a market town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds, in West Yorkshire, England. It lies approximately south-west of Leeds city centre. Together with Drighlington, Gildersome, Churwell, Tingley and East/West Ardsley, the town had a population of 47,579 in...

 area, having in 2007 celebrated 300 years of preaching. Reverend Jane Ledingham is the current preacher.

History

The original chapel was opened in 1707, and the building was used by residents, but it became apparent that a more functional building should be used. In 1866, for a cost of approximately £2,000, a new chapel was built, much larger than the original. It was opened on 2 May 1866, and the original building remains to this date.

Recent development

Extensive plans were made for a new building to be constructed and for the land to be developed efficiently. The final plan was put in place, allowing the Church to keep the 1866 building, but refurbish inside to a high-spec. They closed the balcony and upper floor auditorium, placing a false roof in, and altering the ground floor into modern facilities. The adjoining halls, which used to house the facilities hall, stage, dressing rooms, kitchen and Sunday School rooms were converted into private flats, and a new building, a block of flats, was built to the rear. The graveyard has been part of regeneration schemes, and through extensive grants and volunteer help, the place has been converted, and is now used as an open-classroom, facilitating for the local schools.

During this time of development, the church was closed and it was relocated to the Youth Centre, before the grand opening a couple of years ago.

In joint schemes through church members, the wide community and businesses, several events and schemes operate through the year. The former Joseph Priestley College

Joseph Priestley College

Joseph Priestley College was a further education college founded in 1955 serving the communities of South Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was named after Joseph Priestley, the famous scientist and co-discoverer of oxygen who was born nearby...

 (Now Leeds City College

Leeds City College

Leeds City College is the largest Further education establishment in the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, with around 57,000 students, 2,300 staff and an annual turnover of £78 million. It officially opened on 1 April 2009...

) have since the Church opened, encouraged college learning, providing many courses, especially IT. Also, some youngsters have been encouraged to take part in the redevelopment in the garden, learning from experts on construction and gardening.