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The Parish of Ashton in Makerfield
in the County of
-- Lancashire --

Park Lane Chapel
in the Parish of Ashton in Makerfield


	Park Lane Chapel Photograph courtesy of Rick Klose, 2007

The following is transcribed from the front of the Baptism Register 1800 to 1830.

The Presbyterian Chapel in Park Lane in Ashton in Makerfield, in the Parish of Winwick, and Co. pal. of Lancaster was completed in the year 1697 in the latter part of the reign of King William of immortal memory. It was built on land previously purchased by the remainder and the descendants of those Presbyterians who suffered so severely by the black Bartholemew Act in 1662, under the reign of the profligate Charles 2nd.

The first Minister of Park-lane Chapel was the Revd. Thomas Blinston, who after having preached for several years in licensed houses in the Neighbourhood, was chosen to officiate as Minister in the new Edifice A.D. 1697; which Office he held ‘till his Death, in the year 1721. After which event the place was supplied by various Ministers for the space of 6 years, ‘till in:-

1727	The Revd. John Brownlow was chosen Minister and officiated for a long Period of 59 years; becoming incapacitated by Age, he resigned in 1786; and died April 19th 1788, in the 85th year of his Age. In:-
1786	The Revd Hezekiah Kirkpatrick succeeded him. In his time things were politically unfavourable to the Dissenters, of whose tenets he was a warm and able defender. He was Minister for 13 years, and died Septr. 19th 1799, in the 61st year of his Age. In:-
1800	The Revd. Thos. Broadbent was chosen Minister. In his time the following events relative to the chapel took place. In 1801 a new bell was cast at Wigan, and put up in place of the old one; which had hung at the chapel from nearly the Time of its’ being built. In 1804 the yard was enlarged, leveled, and enclosed with a new stone wall. In 1806, all the old windows were taken out and new ones put in. The expense attending these things amounted to upwards of £100 and was defrayed by the voluntary Subscriptions of the Minister and Congregation.
	The Revd Thos Broadbent was Minister of the Chapel till his death in 1811, and was there buried. He was succeeded by:-
1812	The Revd. Thos Smith who entered upon his pastoral duties in May of this year, and after officiating upwards of 10 years, resigned the Ministry in Sepr. 1822.

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