OUR HISTORY
The old Particular Baptist Church in
Mint Lane (1819)
The old Particular Baptist Church in
Mint Lane (1819)
Early history
The earliest documented history of Lincoln Baptist Church can be traced back to 1767, when a community of Christians that was part of a Church of Christ (Particular Baptists) based chiefly in Horncastle met together in Lincoln. Although a piece of land had been purchased in Mint Lane on which to erect a Particular Baptist church, sufficient funds were not initially available to enable the building work to be undertaken, and the church was not opened until 30 June, 1819. In the meantime, it appears that the group of Particular Baptists met either in a dwelling house or in the premises owned by the General Baptist Church.
Records from the General Baptist Church – currently the Thomas Cooper Memorial Baptist Church (TCM) – indicate that by 1781 their membership had declined to the level at which it was unable to maintain public worship, and the decision was taken to let the premises to the Particular Baptists, with a proviso that General Baptist ministers should be allowed to hold services when they passed that road.
Mint Street Baptist Church
(opened 1871)
Mint Street Baptist Church
By 1869 the membership of the old church in Mint Lane had increased considerably, and the decision was taken to build a new church on the same site. Corner stones were laid on 18 August, 1870, and during the building of the new church, services were held in the Old Corn Exchange. The new church, Mint Street Baptist Church, was opened on Monday, 13 February, 1871, providing accommodation for about 600 people.
During the ministry of Rev. G.A. Brown (1877–1879) a time of revival took place in the Mint Street Church: records show that 220 new members were added in 32 months. Following Rev. G.A. Brown, Rev. G.P. Mackay was appointed in September 1879, and during his ministry a disagreement arose, which resulted in 61 people leaving the church.
Monks Road Baptist Church
The group that left Mint Street began meeting in homes, but they soon found that they needed somewhere to meet for worship, and in 1881 they hired Newport Hall, near Newport Arch, for some time. However, as the church grew in number they realised that a meeting place in the city centre was needed until they could raise sufficient funds and find a site for a church building of their own. In the meantime, they hired a room in the Masonic Hall. A site became available in Monks Road, and on 27 February, 1884, Monks Road Baptist Church was opened.
Both Mint Street and Monks Road Baptist churches continued independently until 1975: Mint Street with appointed ministers; Monks Road ‘lay-led’, apart from two pastors between 1881 and 1886. However, during 1972 the deacons of Mint Street Baptist Church recognised that significant structural repairs were needed to the building, which, if they went ahead, would place a heavy financial burden on the church. Meanwhile, the deacons and members of the Monks Road Baptist Church had received a letter from the Council informing them that there was a move to compulsorily purchase the church. As the two churches had increasingly been joining together on various occasions, talks began to explore the possibility of combining the two churches in one new building. The eventual outcome of these talks was the formation of Lincoln Baptist Church (LBC), formally inaugurated at a service on Saturday, 26 April, 1975.
Monks Road Baptist Church
(opened 1884)
Lincoln Baptist Church
(opened 1978)
Lincoln Baptist Church
After a site on Croft Street was offered by the Council, plans were drawn up and construction of the new building began in July 1977. On Wednesday, 14 September, 1977, the stone-laying ceremony for the new church took place, and after completion of the work the official opening by the late Rev. Arthur Bonser (East Midlands Baptist Association Area Superintendent) took place on Saturday, 30 September, 1978.
Today, Lincoln Baptist Church is a vibrant church with a congregation made up of people from a variety of nationalities, age ranges and backgrounds. Our vision is to make and grow disciples in Jesus, by reaching out into the community and beyond with the gospel message in obedience to the Great Commission given to His Church by Jesus (Matthew 28:18–20).
Over the weekend of 26–27 April, 2025, we celebrate our 50th Anniversary with a variety of events and services to mark the occasion. Further details can be found here.
A book containing a comprehensive history of the church has been compiled and published, and will be launched as part of the celebrations. It’s entitled, A History of Lincoln Baptist Church (incorporating Mint Street Baptist Church and Monks Road Baptist Church) (1767–2025).