Building History
1855 - 1932
Our chapel building found its early roots in four Baptist Christians who lived in Aylestone village in the mid-19th century.
From 1855 onwards they held services on Sunday afternoons in a cottage in the Hollow owned by a Mr and Mrs Crosher.
Their address in the Census returns of that period was 73,The Hollow, which we believe was a long demolished pair of cottages directly opposite the farmyard entrance of the Old Aylestone Farm which still exists today as a farm shop at the bottom of Sanvey Lane.
Still serving sweets at the age of 90 in 1977!
Later it was well known as
Mrs Newman's Sweet Shop
73, The Hollow, with street shade, in about 1930
In 1859 the Croshers applied along with the two others to become members at Belvoir Street Baptist Church in the city centre of Leicester.
They invited preachers from Belvoir Street to come to Aylestone, and the village fellowship became a daughter Baptist church of the Belvoir Street chapel. A monthly newsletter was begun and circulated to all the cottages in the village – just sixty-five.
The congregation grew to fifteen or twenty, obliging the Croshers to knock down a partition wall. But still the premises were insufficient.
1869 Auction Advertisement
Lot 62 was bought by Mr Bennett in 1869
in 1869 the whole village was split into auction lots and sold off by the Duke of Rutland. A benefactor and member of Belvoir Street, Mr. Bennett, bought lot 62 in what was then called Mad Lane, and the chapel was built and opened in 1871.
Aylestone Baptist Church today in Lutterworth Road
The Aylestone Baptist Church continued to meet there until 1932 when they outgrew the building and decided to move to a new purpose-built building on nearby Lutterworth Road after church treasurer and major city hosiery manufacturer, Mr Edward Stibbe, gave the church a plot of land on which to build a new church and school room.
1933- 1996
For a long period the building was then in the hands of the British Legion. The Aylestone and District Branch at its height boasted some 500 members.
The branch was registered as a charity from 1963 until the branch cessation in 1996
Leicester Mercury, 5 May 1948
First known photograph of the chapel building (1935)
British Legion Women's Outing in 1939, gathered outside the building
Wedding party outside building in 1947 ("Shaddy" Shaddington and Vera Ward)
Leicester Evening Mail, 4 February 1948
The 1957 Great Dispute of the Sexes
In 1957 the Club made front page news as the Men and Women fought over the usage of the hall, and whether a drinks bar was allowed to be installed. Thankfully for today’s heritage and because of the building’s continuing consecrated status the Minute Book did not allow it.
We presume fraternal peace was later restored.
Leicester Evening Mail, 17 Jan 1957
Leicester Evening Mail, 21 January 1957
1996 - 2012
In 1996 the building was sold and became the “New Life Apostolic Church”.
Even now the building is still commonly known as the New Life Centre.
Building's time as the "New Life Apostolic Church"
2008 Conservation Area Listing
Aylestone Village Conservation Area Character Appraisal, March 2008
In 2008 the building was included within the Aylestone Conservation Area. The building’s fitting heritage description is given below.
2012 - 2022
In 2012 the building was turned into a local events venue called the “Sanctuary Workshops” which included activities such as pilates, yoga, beauty and photography, as well as parties and events.
After the pandemic, denial of planning permission to convert into flats, and controversy over unauthorised demolition of the front wall, the building was put up for sale in 2022.
News Articles on front wall demolition, Dec 2021
2023 - Present
In May 2023 the Leicester Church of Christ were happy to purchase the building and restore it once more to its former glory and usage as a church in this wonderfully important historical area.
Working with the Council we restored the front wall using a local stonemason as close to the original stone as could be sourced, and a iron gate from Stockport that fitted the original gap, but we were told once belonged to former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, hence its local nickname the "gates of fury", but which we renamed the "gates of thanksgiving"
We love heritage and the power of community, and we warmly invite you to join with us to worship on Sundays. You will be assured of a warm Christian welcome.
You may also contact us to arrange a private tour of the building.
Contact
Reach out to us anytime
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info@leicester.church
