Untill the end of the 17th century there was no place of worship of any sort in Bacup. The nearest what the Episcopal Church at New Church. During the latter of the century a few protestant dissenters. were to be found in Rossendale. These men living in troublous and persecuting time, were stalwarts in the cause of conscience and religious liberty. They met for worship in private houses and in times of severe persecution they met at night in secluded glens. They were ministered to by itinerant preachers, the chief of whom were two cousins, William Mitchell and David Crosley, who were both natives of Heptonstall in West Yorkshire.

The first place buiilt as a religious meeting house for these Protestant dissenters was erected in 1962 on the site of the present Bacup Library. The Trust Deed states that the building was to be used firstly for the purpose of a school house and secondly "For the use of David Crosley and William Mitchell... to pray, preach and worship in as often as they should have occasion, and in thier absence for all other such like ministers now called or styled Protestant Dissenters". It was here that what became known as the "Church of Christ in Rossendale" was organised and where the scattered dissenters were consolidated into a distinct church, though it was not untill about 1710 that the church definitely adopted Baptist principles.

Mitchell and Crosley exercised thier itinerant ministry over a wide area stretching between Rossendale and Bradford and formed mnay branches of the Church of Christ in Rossendale in these parts. In process of time many of these branches, including Barnoldswick, Bacup, Cloughfold, Rodhill End, Stoneslack, Rawdon, Gildersome and Heaton, became seperate churches. William Mitchell died in 1707. About the year 1722, after many wanderings, David Crosley became the pastor of the Bacup church and continued in that office untill his death in 1744.

Dissension was created in the church as to which of two church members should succeed David Crosley as pastor, one party choosing Henry Lord and the other choosing Joseph Piccop. The Lord party continued the use of the old meeting house, but in 1746 the Piccop party built a new meeting house in Lane Head Lane. In the course of a few years Henry Lord departed from the scene and those who had supported him became reconciled under the pastoral care of Joseph Piccop and the whole church worshipped at the "New Meeting". Joseph Piccop was a farm labourer. He was born, lived and died at Loveclough and made the journey to Bacup as occasion required. He was rough and uncouth in appearance and manners but was a powerful preacher of considerable ability. He died in 1772 and was buried inside the chapel at Bacup.

The church was in weak condition at the time of Mr. Piccop's death, but fortunately was not long without a pastor. John Hirst, a member of the Baptist Church at Accrington, was appointed pastor and commenced his duties in 1773. By 1777 the congregation had largely increased and a larger meeting house was erected at a cost of £400, all of which was promised before the bhuilding started. By 1810 still more room was needed and this was met by the building of a new chapel which was opened in 1812 and under this chapel a room was provided for Sunday School. By this time Mr. Hirst had become very feeble and it was only with great difficulty he could continue his pastoral work. Towards the end of his life, still determined to preach, he had to be carried into the pulpit and though not able to stand he addressed the congregation from his "preaching chair" which is not on the premises at Trinity. He died in 1815 after a devoted and successful minestry of 42 years.

The Rev. W. J. Dyer succeded Mr. Hirst in 1816, but in 1821 Mr. Dyer and about half the members seceded and formed a second church later known as Irwell Terrace.

This secession from the parent church of Ebenezer was caused by some trivial metter which in 1821, after 129 years, was deemed to be of such importance that it split the church.

The first meeting of the new church was in King Street, where a room was taken and licened for worship, Rev. Dyer continuing as pastor. The new chapel was opened amid much rejoycing on May 23rd, 1823. The opening services were conducted by the Rev. Dr. Steadman, of Bradford, Mr. Fisher, of Liverpool, and Mr. Birt, or Manchester.

The Rev. F. W. Dyer preached his farewell sermon on September 28th, 1832, thus closing a ministry in two churches of 16 years. Eleven of those years were spent in connection with Irwell Terrace. During his pastorate 37 members were added to the church by baptistm.

After and interval fo two and a half years the Rev. Thomas Dawson of Bradford College, accepted the pastorate on May 17th, 1835, and continued untill September, 1851. During his pastorate he recieved into fellowship 450 persons. His days at Irwell Terrace were the brightest in its history, the church being numberically strong, united and spiritually prosperous. In 1838 the chapel was enlarged and a preaching room opened at Waterbarn. The enlarged chapel was opened in October of that same year.

By the year 1846 it was decided to build a chapel at Waterbarn, £500 being promised at one meeting held at Irwell Terrace for the purpose. The total cost of this venture was £1,900 and in 1848 the Orchard Hill Chapel was opened.

In 1851 Mr. Dawson resigned his work at Bacup to undertake a cause at Byrom Street, Liverpool. On coming to Bacup he had found 64 members on the Church Roll and on his leaving thgis number had been increased to 327. When he came to Bacup, he came to a small chapel, but on his departure he left two goodly sized bhuildings both free from debt. During part of his ministry he had as co-pastors the Rev. B. Butterworth, G. Taylor and the worthy Rev. J. Howe who, for 35 years, presided over waterbarn Church.The Rev. G. Mitchell, of Horsforth, succeded the Rev. T. Dawson in March, 1852.

During 1854 the school buildings were built in South Street at a cost of £1,400, and the school premises at Waterbarn were enlarged. That same year Waterbarn severed its connection with Irwell Terrace and became a seperate church. Then we read that several friends, again in 1854, left Irwell Terrace and formed the church at Zion. It can only be regarded as reasonable that Mr. Mitchell would be feeling miserable and depressed, although let it be said that no record exists to suggest this.

This group of people who had newly arrived in Bacup had come from Heptonstall Slack, in Yorkshire, the same place from which had come William Mitchell and David Crosely in 1692. These people were hand loom weavers and because of the difficulty in finding work where they had lived they had moved to Rossendale in the hope of finding employment in the cotton mills.

Thier first meeting for worship was in a house in Earnshaw Road, the home of Mr. Thomas Midgley. Soon after this, these friends decided to take another house which was in Burnley Road, but later, because of the limited accommodation, it was found necessary to hire the Mechanics' Hall in which to celebrate the opening of this cottage. Yet again they moved, this time to a place in Newchurch Road. This was on Good Friday, 1854. Then it was decided to open a fund in finance the building of a new chapel in which to worship.

The princely sum of £20 - the result of six lectures on Christianity by Rev. Thomas Cooper - was used to open the building fund. Further efforts were made and the sum of £250 was raised to purchase a plot of land in South Street between Gladstone Street and Tong Lane. This was the beginning of South Street General Baptist Church. The foundation stone was liad on Good Friday, 1872, and the building was opened on April 3rd, 1873. It cost £1,600 and was capable of seating 250.