‘MEETING-HOUSE’ FUTURE

Rushden’s old Baptist Meeting House, for many years unused, may be sold shortly, but its fate is uncertain.

Nearby stands the Baptist assembly rooms, but when the new Sunday School premises next to Park Road Baptist Church are completed the old property will not be needed.

Members of the Park Road church have been asked by their minister, the Rev. Vivian C. Evans, for their views about the disposal of the old buildings and ground. The matter will be discussed at the next church meeting.

The old church and graveyard

Mr. Evans has told the Baptists there are three possibilities of dealing with the properties and ground. They are: (a) Sell the old chapel, plus part of the burial ground, for a nominal sum to any prospective purchaser and give him a free hand to do as he pleases with it – the sum might be £600. It could be store house or a scrap metal yard.

(b) Offer both the old chapel and assembly rooms, together with the burial ground, to one buyer, to do as he pleases with it. According to the church finance committee the money realised by this might not be a lot.

(c) Consider the possibility of converting both the old chapel and the assembly rooms into flats for old people and make the burial ground a quiet garden. At little expense the grass could be kept tidy and a few flower beds made. It might be possible to turn part of it into a rose garden.

Mr. Evans said the properties are capable of conversion and he would like the idea fully explored. “We must have a plan to put into action” he said. “It would be possible to act in haste and then be sorry for ever. To take no action at all would lead to the whole plot gradually becoming a wilderness.”