The year 1873 marks another advance – the erection of the chapel and school in High Street.  Foundation stones were laid, when scholars presented their contributions in small bags made by lady teachers.  The school part consisted of lower and upper rooms, the latter being used as the main assembly hall, and the total cost was £1,000.  The opening services were conducted by Dr John Clifford.

No records are available from 1874 to 1881, but it can be stated that, settled in the new premises, a very good work was carried on, the number of scholars gradually increasing.

Mr G Denton was elected superintendent in 1881, and the secretary at this period was Mr D P Boyd.

Records for 1882 show that 19 scholars received prizes for good attendance, having been specially selected.  They included Oliver Claridge, C G Crick, three brothers named Willmott, E Knight, and A Lawson.  On August 14th an Industrial Exhibition and Flower Show was held, and seeds were sold to the scholars at 1d. per packet, the money to be refunded if they made an exhibit.  Mention is made at this period also of the Band of Hope excursion: because of this event the date of the scholars’ treat was altered.

In 1884 the new Hymn Book as adopted for use in the school.  Thirty-four Bibles were presented to scholars at the anniversary services.

It was in 1885 that the teachers decided to join Rushden and District Sunday School Union.  A teachers’ summer tea and meeting was held in Mr Denton’s top field in beautiful weather, a good number attending.  The first collection was taken for the Continental Sunday School Fund.

Overcrowding of the school was mentioned for the second time in 1886.  In this year a branch of the International Bible Reading Association was formed, Miss E Clayton being the first secretary.

A summer tea was held in the “top field” in 1887.

Minutes of a teacher’s meeting held in 1888 record the attendance of 42 teachers, including the Rev T G Harper, who was then minister of the church.

In December of the same year it was resolved to apply for the use of the new Board School so that a branch Sunday School could be opened in Moor Road, but apparently an application from the Baptist School was given first consideration, as that school was the first to use the Moor Road premises.

We come now to 1890, which saw the erection and opening of the present schools in Queen Street, at a cost of £2,000, the whole of which was cleared in 1896.  The opening by Rev T Stephens, of Wellingborough, took place in November.  The church services were also transferred to the new schoolroom owing the chapel erected in 1873 not being large enough.  The superintendents now were Mr G Denton and Mr E Claridge, the secretary was Mr E Wrighton and the assistant secretary Mr A H Lawson.

A special mention is made in 1892 of the treat held on June 27th, when tea was provided for 400 and the Salvation Army Band was in attendance.  The special treat for the teachers was a strawberry tea held on June 30th.  The Harvest Festival services saw a special effort of £200 go towards the building fund of the schools.  During this year also Mr Newton Jones conducted a week’s mission.

In 1893 Mr A H Lawson was appointed secretary, and then began a service to the school which extended for many years.  On February 13th an old scholars’ gathering was held, when a report of the work of the school since its foundation was given.  We learn that there were then 470 scholars and a staff of 66 teachers and officers.

About this time a settled arrangement for quarterly teas and meetings to be held appears to have resulted in the annual meeting being held on New Year’s Eve at the invitation of Mr and Mrs Denton, an April gathering with Mr and Mrs E Claridge as host and hostess, a Midsummer tea held in the open air at “Eastfields,” and an October tea provided by Mr and Mrs C G Cunnington.

It was at the residence of the Cunningtons that a meeting was held on October 3rd, when a letter was read from the secretary of the Old Baptist Sunday School with regard to the taking over of the Moor Road Schools.  At a further meeting held on October 19th, with the Rev T G Harper presiding, Mr T Surridge proposed and Mr J Clark seconded that we take over the Moor Road Schools, the secretary to arrange for the transfer with the School Board.  The first session of the school was on December 10th, with Mr J Clark as superintendent and Mr S Leeding as secretary.

An interesting event in 1885 was a teachers’ outing to Lilford Hall during Whitsun Week, when a very enjoyable day was spent in the beautiful gardens and aviary, which were thrown open for the occasion.  The catering was in the hands of the Rushden Coffee Tavern, and before leaving in the evening the company assembled before the Hall, singing several selections under the lead of Mr J Mackness and Mr T Bromage.

Scholars from the Moor Road School joined in the afternoon service at the school anniversary.  In the course of this year also the Mission Hall in Station Road was opened at a cost of £500, and at the December annual meeting 10 new teachers were accepted.  Mr F White was appointed secretary of the Mission School.

In 1896 it was agreed that the Mission School should hold its own anniversary services, but should join with the Queen Street School for the treat on June 15th, when provision was made for 700, with swing boats, sports and a string band.

Miss Jennie Street, of London, was the anniversary preacher in 1897, and also held a week’s mission in October.