Northampton Mercury Saturday 9^th October 1877, transcribed by Susan Manton

Rushden Succoth Baptist Chapel—Sarah Odell, one of the members of the congregation attending the above place of worship was taken ill and had to be removed and taken home to Irchester. She died on Tuesday.

SUCCOTH CHAPEL—On Sunday last two sermons were preached in Succoth Baptist Chapel by the Rev. J. Morling, of St. Neot's, who also addressed the scholars in the afternoon. Special hymns were sung by the children and choir, and in the evening an anthem, "He shall dwell in the land," was given, Miss Tye and Mr. Farey taking the solos. There were good congregations at all the services. The collections in aid of the Sunday School amounted to upwards of £1. On Monday the annual tea treat was held. After the scholars had partaken of tea, a public tea was held to which a good company sat down. Tea over, the whole retired to a field, kindly lent by Mr. G. H. Skinner, where racing and other games were enjoyed by the juveniles for some time, after which a singing service was held in the field, addresses being given, and a large gathering thoroughly enjoyed the holiday.

TEA AND MEETING—On Monday the parents of the scholars attending the Succoth Chapel Sunday School were entertained to their annual tea, when a goodly number sat down. After tea a meeting was held, over which the pastor (Rev. G. Pung) presided. Short addresses were given by the Chairman, Messrs. F. Vorley, Newell, Knight, Clarke, and Ladds. Some special selections were admirably rendered by the choir. Altogether a very suitable and pleasant evening was spent.

SUCCOTH BAND OF HOPE—A tea and entertainment were held on Saturday last in connection with this Band of Hope.

Rev. G. Pung has accepted the pastorate of the chapel at Orford Hill, Norwich.

SUCCOTH CHAPEL—We are pleased that the friends connected with this place of worship have at length secured a leader in the person of Mr. W. E. Palmer, late of Zion Chapel, High Wycombe, Bucks, who has accepted a six months engagement with a view to the pastorate. Mr. Palmer will enter upon his duties the first Sunday in July.

SUCCOTH BAPTIST CHAPEL—It will be in the recollection of many of our readers that a few-months ago the Rev. W. E. Palmer accepted a six months' engagement at this place of worship with a view to the pastorate. We are pleased to state, however, that so great has been the satisfaction afforded by the rev. gentleman's ministrations, that a meeting of the members and friends was held on Sunday afternoon, and although Mr. Palmer has only completed three months of his engagement, it was decided by a unanimous vote to offer him the pastorate, which he accepted.

SUCCOTH CHAPEL YOUNG PEOPLE'S CLASS—The usual meeting of the above class was held on Wednesday, the programme for the evening being short articles written by members. Five articles wore read as follows:—''Purchased blessings," by Mr. E. Clarke; "Natural religion" by Mr. J. Northern, "Physiology," by Mr. B. Vorley; " Artic expeditions" by Mr. B. Ladds; and "Action" by Mr. W. E. Palmer. The papers were much appreciated by those present.

Succoth Baptist Chapel – the Rev. J. Crook, preaching on Sunday Evening, alluded in touching terms to the death of the late Mr. Harlow, an old and respected resident of Rushden. Deceased, who had expired during the previous week, was a consistent member of the Succoth chapel.

SUCCOTH CHAPEL—Mr. Freston, who has accepted the pastorate of this chapel for three months, is conducting a series of services on Monday evenings for five consecutive weeks, and the interest in them is very good. Last night the schoolroom was well filled by an attentive audience, and the marked improvement in the Sunday services shows with what acceptance Mr. Freston's services are appreciated.

Mr J Crook, pastor of the Succoth Baptist Chapel at Rushden, but who left at the time of the unhappy split a year two ago, and started another church of the same denomination the town, has intimated his intention of leaving Rushden to take up a pastorate in the Isle Man…...

Succoth Baptist Chapel
Tea was served on Friday to the scholars of the Sunday School and the members of the Band of Hope, the company numbering about 120. A lantern entertainment by Mr C W Desborough followed.

Mr M J Tryon, pastor of the North-street Baptist Chapel, Stamford, preached on Tuesday afternoon and evening, and in the interval between the services tea was provided. Mr Tryon’s discourses were greatly enjoyed.

Rushden Notes
Harvest Services – Harvest thanksgiving services were held at the Succoth Baptist Church on Sunday, and Tuesday. On Sunday the services were conducted by the Rev. J. H. Lynn, pastor of the church. On Tuesday afternoon and evening sermons were preached by Mr. F. G. Burgess of London, the services being fairly well attended. In the afternoon a public tea was held.

Succoth Baptist Chapel—Harvest thanksgiving services were held on Monday, the preacher, afternoon and evening, being Pastor M Beeby, of Carlton. A tea was held at the close of the afternoon service, the arrangements being carried out by Mrs Bennett, Mrs Brown, and Miss Sabey.

GAS FAILURE—Owing to the failure of the gas supply, the service on Sunday evening at Succoth Baptist Chapel had to be conducted by candle light. Great inconvenience was caused, and it is hoped that the defects will have been remedied by the time of the next service.

Succoth Chapel
Services in connection with the 15th anniversary of the Succoth Baptist Sunday School, Rushden, were held on Sunday, when Pastor C. A. Freston, of Walsall, preached both morning and evening. In the afternoon a special address was given to the scholars by Pastor Freston. In continuation a service was held on Monday evening when Pastor Freston again delivered a helpful discourse. All the services were fairly well attended and the total collections amounted to £12.11s. 0½d which were in aid of the Sunday School funds. Pastor Freston has preached the annual sermons for several years in succession and his discourses were greatly appreciated.

Rushden Echo, 11^th July 1924, transcribed by Kay Collins

Outing—A party of about 36, consisting of the Bible Class of the Rushden Succoth Baptist Church went to Woburn Sands by charabanc on Saturday last, calling at Olney on the outward journey. The party started at 1.30p.m., arriving at their destination at 4.30, and tea was served at five o’clock. After driving through the park, the party started home at seven o’clock, stopping for a short time at Bedford and arriving home about 10.p.m. Mr Asher Abbott supplied the charabanc.

Religious ‘White Elephant’ is Doomed
Rushden High Street’s religious white elephant – the Succoth Chapel – will be demolished within the next five years.

The chapel, which was bought by the Rushden Co-operative Society seven years ago, is to be replaced by another building. Mr. R. R. Griffiths, managing secretary of the Co-operative Society, was not prepared to say what the new building would be.

At present the chapel is empty.

Although the Succoth Chapel is now obsolete it enjoyed a startling heyday.

It was the meeting place for the Strict and Particular Baptists, a group which left the more formal Baptist movement. They became known as the Bottom Meeting.

The man who enabled the Succoth Chapel to be built was a young London preacher, Charles Drawbridge, who attracted a wide following. He was a man with Calvinistic beliefs who was not above using personal abuse and gross vulgarity in the pulpit.

Drawbridge died in the late nineteenth century but the Strict and Particular Baptists continued to flourish during the early days of this century.

People living in Rushden today can remember the time when the Succoth was so full that chairs had to be used in the aisle to accommodate the congregation.

Dwindled

As Victorian and puritanical thinking was left behind, so the Strict Baptist following dwindled.

Almost as quickly as it had grown up, the Strict and Particular Baptist movement in Rushden declined.

Congregations at the Succoth Chapel became steadily smaller and seven years ago it was sold.

Today the building is to be demolished in the name of modernisation. Perhaps those who used the chapel would not have approved but Rushden will benefit from its removal.

Succoth chapel to be demolished - Co-op Planning High Street Supermarket

Plans are being made by Rushden Co-operative Society for a new grocery supermarket in Rushden High Street, next to the existing drapery department.

The secretary/ manager of the society, Mr. R. R. Griffiths, told the “Echo” that it was planned to demolish the Succoth Chapel – which has been owned by the Co-op for some time now – and use the site for the new store.

The society is also in the process of negotiations to buy the furniture shop of A. Gramshaw and Sons, Ltd. adjacent to the chapel.

Mr. Griffiths said work on the demolition of the chapel – founded in 1805 – would begin after work on the Newton Road bakery had been completed.

The supermarket would be primarily for food, selling groceries, meat and greengrocery produce.

Development would be along the lines put forward by the county planning officer for the town centre of Rushden, and it was hoped that access to the store could be made from both the High Street and Co-op car park similar to that of the existing drapery department.