Church History
A wooden hut, standing by the single-track railway line, in a wilderness of sand, May 1875, was known as 'the first house where the nonconformists held their first religious meeting'. At the time, these Baptists from Cloughfold settled in St Annes there were few other residences except farm houses and fishermen's cottages. 'Sandhills were as high as a church tower'.
On December 10th1883, the Assembly Rooms, over a shop on the Crescent, were rented and the first pastor and officers were appointed.
The Church was formally constituted on Monday 31st March 1884 with fourteen members.
The first baptisms took place in the sea at 6am on July 6, 1884 when 5 candidates made public witness of their faith in Christ 'on a lovely summer morning'.
By November 1884, a 'new chapel' was envisaged. The offer of a penny farthing per yard was increased one and a half pennies for land on St Andrew's Road South and on this site, the first church was built, in 13 weeks, and opened on Christmas Day 1886.
Consolidation of God's work there included extension ministry and by 1902, the church was sponsoring new Baptist work at Ansdell. Also included was planning for a new, larger church at the corner of St Andrew's Road South and St Thomas' Road. The population of the town was by then over 10,000: a copy of the monthly Church magazine was left in every home, every month.
The present church was opened on April 23, 1910. The building cost £5,580 and with extras (ground rent, road making, furnishings, leaded lights, heating, lighting, partitions etc) around £8,700. The building with gallery provided accommodation for 550. The Baptistry was lined with marble terrazzo and has a curb of Cicilian marble. The pulpit is beautifully carved with a design of vine leaves, grapes and passion flowers, 'the work able and generously done by a woman, Miss E. Crook'.
The Peace Memorial Organ, consisting of three manuals, (total cost around £4000) was installed and at the special Service on 12 November 1921 it was considered that this worthy memorial tp Peace also marked the realisation of the dreams of many who believed that both the Church and its Music should be worthy of Him whose House it is.
The early Church was interested in church development. In 1902, a Church Minute reported 'that a magnificent offer of £50 p.a. for 3 years had been made by a member of the congregation for the purpose of starting a new Baptist cause in the Lytham district'. Two years later, members were released to share in the formation of Ansdell Baptist Church.
As we look ahead, it is with the conviction that God has much more for us to do for Him. Our desire is to be obedient to the Great Commission to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ by our Christian walk and witness, and to be involved in every movement for spiritual life and growth.
St Annes Baptist Church Pastors
| Rev. Edwin Brown | 1884 – 1894 |
| Rev. W.J.Varley | 1894 – 1906 |
| Rev. P.B.Watson Cowle | 1909 – 1918 |
| Rev. H.Hunter | 1921 – 1928 |
| Rev. C.J.Tongue | 1929 – 1939 |
| Rev. L.Worsnip | 1941 – 1944 |
| Rev. A.H.Cames | 1945 – 1953 |
| Rev. J.H.Matson | 1954 – 1959 |
| Rev. F.J.Bayliss | 1961 – 1965 |
| Rev. C.N.Atkinson | 1966 – 1973 |
| Rev. C.D.Haig | 1974 – 1986 |
| Rev. D.H.Weller | 1989 – 1993 |
| Rev. W.Ferguson | 1994 – Present |
