Pole Lane, Townsend and Ebenezer Chapels, Darwen in the County of -- Lancashire --

Baptisms at Pole Lane, Townsend and Ebenezer Chapels
in the Parish of Darwen

The registers of Births and Baptisms for Pole Lane Chapel, Townsend Chapel and Ebenezer Chapel are all presented on this page, because registers, ministers and congregations moved between them during a turbulent period in the chapels' history in the early nineteenth century.

A set of three register books was submitted to the Registration Commission in 1837 by Seymour Fenton Porter, the Minister at Ebenezer Chapel. They were accompanied by an explanatory letter, an excerpt of which is below, which refers to them as Registers 1, 2, and 3. [Material in square brackets has been added editorially, in standard font for completion of unreadable words, and in italics for clarification.]

"The germ of the present Congregation in Ebenezer Chapel was formerly in Pole Lane Chapel in the same Township. Mr Townshend was the first Minister; and the Register which when sent you will find labelled No. 1 was commenced by him in May 1793. From that time he continued it to September 18[2]0 - The majority of the Congregation being d[isplea]sed with much of his conduct he left [Pole] Lane Chapel and with the help of a few fri[ends] erected [Townsend Chapel, which later became] Ebenezer Chapel in which for a short time he preached. Mr Hackin succeeded him in the old Pulpit [at Pole Lane Chapel]. Mr Townshend when leaving Pole Lane refused to resign the Register; accordingly Mr Hackin obtained from the memories of the Congregation accounts of the [Births and] Baptisms of their families in Pole Lane Chapel. With these are mingled statements of both births and baptisms of people born and baptized before the erection of the Pole Lane Chapel, the parents of children there baptized, - and also of a few baptisms performed after Mr Townshend's dismission by Mr Hackin I suppose. The whole form the Register No. 2. In 1823 the two Congregations united in Ebenezer Chapel under the Ministry of Mr Fletcher, who commenced the Registry No. 3, - which, carried on by his successors the late Mr Hague and myself, reaches to the present time."

The dates of the registers overlap, reflecting this complex history. Book 1 is dated 1793-1820 and was kept by Mr Townsend during his time at Pole Lane Chapel and later at Townsend Chapel. Book 2 is mostly presented in the style of a census of family groups, reflecting the families' memories; this appears to have been compiled in about 1818 but includes births and baptisms from 1736-1822. This book also includes a section of baptisms in a more standard format covering the years 1820-1822. Book 3 is a standard register covering the period 1823-1837 in Ebenezer Chapel.

The Register for Baptisms at Pole Lane and Townsend Chapels 1793 - 1820 with Surname Index

The Register for Births and Baptisms at Pole Lane Chapel 1736 - 1822 with Surname Index

The Register for Baptisms at Ebenezer Chapel 1823 - 1837 with Surname Index

There are 2016 Baptism Records extracted for this Church

A combined index for all the above registers may be accessed through the links below.

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