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The story of one of Derby’s most influential 19th century non-conformist ministers, John Gregory Pike, is featured in a book recently published by the Reverend Stephen Greasley, of the Pear Tree Road Baptist Church.

John Pike was called to the Brook Street Baptist Chapel in Derby, 1810. The congregation was very poor and was only able to pay Pike £50 a year.

Nevertheless, as a result of Pike’s endeavours, the congregation grew and so successful was his ministry, that the church had to move out of Brook Street Chapel and into the palatial mansion in St Mary’s Gate.

The Baptists began to worship at St Mary’s Gate in 1842, by which time, they had a membership of 426.

The congregation continued to grow under Pike’s ministry until it became one of the largest Baptist churches in the East Midlands.

Pike’s ministry was not confined to his preaching work. He was a prolific writer of devotional literature, as well as being the founder and secretary of the General Baptist Missionary Society.

John Gregory Pike died in September 1854, after serving the same church for 44 years.

His funeral was one of the largest public gatherings Derby had ever witnessed. Queues formed in the nearby streets long before the doors opened for the service and people lined the three-quarter-mile route to Uttoxeter Road Cemetery, where he was laid to rest.

About a dozen of the town’s Anglican clergy joined with dissenting ministers in the procession.

A large public monument was subsequently erected and is still quite visible and impressive at the head of the main drive of the cemetery today.

Few ministers had such an impact on Derby as J G Pike.

More information about the Baptists of Derbyshire can be found in Stephen Greasley’s 360-page illustrated book, which traces the story of the religious group in the county from 1650-1914.

Copies of the book can be obtained from Wesley Owen Books and Music on Queen Street, or from the author on Derby 760344.

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County:  Derbyshire

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