Roomfield Baptist Church
Todmorden, West Yorkshire
Roomfield is a small Baptist church with a big welcome, only a few minutes walk from the town centre of Todmorden, down Halifax Road. We are an all inclusive welcoming church encompassing a wide age range. If you are looking for a congregation of people who enjoy a diversity of worship and service styles, who look at issues in an open and non-judgmental way, are committed to working in and with the local community and are housed in a multi-purpose, fully adapted modern building, then please do come and visit us.
There are various rooms available, including the main hall which can comfortably seat 50 people and is very suitable for lectures and conferences. If you are interested in using our premises please click here.
Location
The chapel is 500m from the town centre in the small community of Roomfield. It is slightly set back from Halifax Road with a pleasant garden area which is used by local people. It is surrounded by high density terraced housing which includes a small Asian community.
History
The first Baptist church was established in 1703 at Rodwell End on the hillside above the township of Todmorden. In 1808 the congregation followed the growing population down into the valley and built a new chapel at Millwood, just down the road from the current chapel. That chapel was known as ‘Rehoboth’ and the name can still be seen carved above the doorway of the building which is now in use as a provision merchant.
By 1873 it was too small with a church membership of 140 and a Sunday School of more than 200. A very large new chapel and Sunday School were built on the present site, completed in 1877. The chapel here became known as ‘Roomfield’ - the plan for the purchase of the land shows the main road as Roomfield Lane. This imposing building succumbed to dry rot and was demolished in 1960. After which the current building was built and is a warm, comfortable place of worship. It also is an asset to the community as a pleasant meeting/activity place.
The locality
Todmorden is a small market town with a population of about 15,500 within the borough boundary. This rural area has lots of good walks from the easy to the strenuous yet has excellent transport links to Leeds, Bradford, Blackburn, Manchester and beyond.
Facilities include
Park, cricket club, sports centre & pool, health centre, shopping, outdoor and indoor market.
The town nestles in three valleys at the confluence of the River Calder and Walsden Water. They are referred to as the Halifax, Burnley and Walsden valleys. There were many water powered mills in the valleys which were gradually replaced by steam power in the valley bottom. The mills are now gone and Todmorden has become partly a commuter town whilst retaining some manufacturing and service industry. Importantly, the town retains many people who are ‘Todmordians’ and can trace their ancestry back to the mill owners and other historical figures. This gives the friendly and independent feel that is unique to the area.
At one time the county border ran through the centre but we are now firmly in Yorkshire. A good hearted friendly rivalry remains with those over the border, the cricket clubs play in the Lancashire league.
Our Church
Our worship style is varied using both modern and traditional songs projected on a screen. We have a time of sharing when anyone can talk about things both good and not so good that affect them. Prayers are offered where appropriate. Our warm, comfortable flexible chapel is rented to various organisations. There are various rooms available, including the main hall which can comfortably seat 50 people and is very suitable for lectures and conferences. If you are interested in using our premises: click here
High speed fibre broadband is installed.
Activities of the church
Drop-in with 'Healthy Minds' every Wednesday
Uniformed organisations: Guides, Brownies and Rainbows
We support a number of organisations and charities including: Christian Aid; Baptist Missionary Society; Yorkshire Baptist Association; Leprosy Mission and Open Doors.
We are active members of ‘Churches Together in Todmorden’ and firmly believe in all our churches working in harmony.