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Monksthorpe Baptist Chapel

This little Baptist Church stands in the fields at Orby, near Skegness in Lincolnshire.  It has a fascinating history stretching back over 300 years.
 

There had been a small group of Baptists meeting in Burgh-le-Marsh for some years when, in 1664, King Charles II gave the Royal Assent to the Conventicle Act which allowed for the imprisonment of all persons over 16 years of age who attended any non-conformist gathering. As a result of this Act, these Baptists were forced to abandon their meeting in Burgh, but they refused to give up their worship. Each week they made their way into the countryside and held their services hidden away amongst the trees, hiding from the soldiers.

In spite of all the dangers the witness continued and grew, so that in 1701 they were able to build the simple chapel which still stands today. By this time there was more toleration, but it was still dangerous for Baptists, and the Chapel had a thatched roof (now tiled) so it looked like a barn. During worship there had to be a lookout from a tree, and a trap-door just above the pulpit was provided so that the preacher could make his escape.
 

A feature of the site is the open air baptistry which was last used in 1971. To visit this place is to be reminded of the faith and courage of the Baptist forefathers in Lincolnshire. Today it remains in relative lonely isolation, though now near a farm, and on the edge of an airfield, a second world war bomber base.