The history of Baptist witness in Oadby goes back to before May 1795. It was at that time that Mrs. Elizabeth Waldren of Manor Farm, which was situated near what is now the Tipu Sultan Restaurant (formerly the Old Manor Inn), had her house licensed for Worship. Five years later she had a barn converted for the use of worshippers and in 1815 she had a Chapel erected in what is now Chapel Street on the site of the current Jeannes Fashion shop and the launderette.
However, it was not until May 8th 1825 that the Revd. Robert Hall of Harvey Lane Baptist Church, Leicester, commissioned 13 members from that church, including Elizabeth Waldren, to form the Particular Baptist Chapel, Chapel Street, Oadby.
By the mid 1800’s, the Sunday School grew so large that a new building was erected for this purpose at the bottom of Chapel Street, on the site of the current “Chapel House”. This later became the Oadby Board School, thus enabling children of non-conformists to receive an education nearer home. They had previously had to walk to the village of Evington.
By the 1890’s the Fellowship was looking for bigger premises and the land, on which our present building stands, was given to the Church by Mrs. Ellis, a local benefactress, who also gave land to the village for a swimming pool, which was formerly located next to our church, and for the Ellis Recreation Ground.
It was on Thursday March 17th 1898 that the new church building was opened.
Remarkably, 120 years later, that building remains the one in which the Baptist congregation of Oadby, now know as Oadby Baptist Church, or OBC, still meet in.
Of course the site has been developed over time, including the addition of the Oasis Centre at the rear of the church, as well as a contemporary foyer extension to the front of the church which opened on Sunday 28th November 1999, and extensive renovations to the Oasis Centre hall, kitchen and toilets in 2004.
For a more in depth perspective on the history of OBC and the Baptist movement in Oadby, the church has produced a small book, “The Baptist Cause in Oadby”, which is available to download as a PDF here. If you would like a printed copy, please contact the church office.
