Who was John Fawcett?

In 1765, John Fawcett became pastor of a small Baptist church at Wainsgate in Yorkshire, England. He served faithfully for seven years, despite a small income and a growing family much too large to be supported by his meager wages.

It seemed only practical that he move to a church that paid a larger salary. When he received a call in 1772 to the large and influential Carter's Lane Baptist Church in London he planned to accept the call.

After pastor John Fawcett had preached his farewell sermon at Wainsgate he and his family loaded up all their belongings to move to his new church in London. But, his parishioners begged him to stay and because of his bond with these fellow believers, he unloaded the wagon and made the decision to continue to serve God there instead of moving to the larger church.

To commemorate this event he later wrote the words to “Blessed Be the Tie that Binds”, possibly his most famous hymn.

As well as being an inspirational preacher and teacher, John Fawcett was a man committed to the needs of the community. In 1777, he moved the church from its hilltop location at Wainsgate to Ebenezer Chapel in the heart of Hebden Bridge.

The church outgrew its home at Ebenezer and, in 1857, opened the new Hope Baptist Chapel, which had a capacity of 1,000. With Sunday School Rooms on Cheetham Street, complete with gym facilities, the church had a central role in the life and community of Hebden Bridge.

John Fawcett died in 1817 and is buried in the churchyard at Wainsgate Chapel.