Psalm 96 v 9
Holden Chapel
Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness
We are a small independent congregational church in Lancashire.
We meet regularly to worship God and study the scriptures.
We aim to care for one another, grow as disciples and hold out the word of life to those around us.
You are welcome to join us.
Our meetings
Please note that occasionally, due to poor weather or illness, some meetings may be cancelled. In addition we sometimes have special meetings at Christmas or other times of year. For up to date information see our facebook page or contact us by email or phone.
If you are hard of hearing we have an induction loop and some amplification. There is a small car park next to the chapel, if it’s full you should be able to park on the road.
Worship
Sunday
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Our Sunday meeting is at 1.30pm and typically lasts one hour.
A normal meeting consists of a short welcome prayer, 3 – 4 hymns, a period of prayer for our congregation and nation, a 30 minute sermon and a leaving blessing. We take bread and wine once a month.
A collection is taken, either for a charity or chapel funds, but there is no obligation to give.
Bible study
Tuesday
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
We meet most Tuesdays from 7.30 to 9pm to read and discuss the bible followed by informal prayer.
There are usually around 6 – 10 people in attendance.
As with all our meetings, anyone is welcome, but please check the meeting is on via our facebook or by contacting us.
Fellowship
Monthly - Tuesday
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Once a month our bible study is replaced with a fellowship meeting. This takes place at 7.30pm on a Tuesday and consists of a visiting speaker and worship and prayer.
There are often around 20 – 30 people in attendance.
Afterwards there is usually tea, coffee, sandwiches and cakes, and we stay on to chat with one another for some time.
On a typical Sunday there will be around 20 people at the chapel of all ages, babies to pensioners, men and women.
Many of the congregation are local farming families, but we come from all walks of life.
We do not have a pastor – the congregation manages itself. However, most Sundays we have visiting speakers from other churches to lead our worship.
We are an evangelical church – we believe the bible is the word of God and is always true, the foundation for our beliefs and behaviour. You can read more about what evangelicals believe on the evangelical alliance website.
We are a congregational church – our church is independent and the decisions are made by our members, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Most importantly, we believe in Jesus Christ, and that your relationship to him will determine your eternal destiny – as the apostle John teaches in his gospel:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3, 16 – 18
Holden chapel is more than 250 years old, and was founded in 1766, an age when refusing to be a part of the established church was still a controversial act.
The Sunday school building was added at a later date in the mid 1800s.
Our graveyard (on the other side of the road from the chapel) contains more than 20 graves stretching back hundreds of years.
There is an excellent article about some of the chapel history at thornber.net and the image of the chapel used on this site was taken by Craig Thornber and is used with his permission.
We have historical and personal links to several other chapels in the local area, notably Martin Top.