AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY THE REV. GEORGE HILL, PASTOR OF THE LEEDS, SOUTH PARADE BAPTIST CHURCH, SENDING THANKS FOR AN OFFER OF HELP WHICH HE CANNOT ACCEPT.

Leeds: September 24, 1878., 1878.. Fine. - Letter penned in black ink & filling both sides of a sheet of 6-7/8 inch high by 4-1/2 inch wide cream-colored note paper. Signed " Geo. Hill". Folded once for mailing. Fine <p>Hill writes to a Mr. W. Friendship [?] about venues for [Baptist] Union Meetings. "We are very much obliged for your offer of help, of which however we fear we cannot avail ourselves as we understand alterations will be made in the train arrangements next month which will make it impossible for Delegates to be sent to Otley and Ilkley.<p>The historic Leeds, South Parade Church may properly be described as the mother of the Baptist churches of the city. After John Wesley visited Leeds in 1743 and declared that "No man cared for the things of God", a group of Methodists in the city built St. Peter's Chapel. One of their preachers, John Edwards, seceded from the Methodists and founded the first Congregational Church in Leeds. Some of his followers walked to Bradford to hear the Rev. William Crabtree preach and were received into the Bradford Church. At length it was decided to adopt the Baptist cause in Leeds and in 1779 part of the Old Assembly Rooms in Kirkgate was opened for public worship. Dr. Fawcett of Hebden Bridge preached the first sermon. George Hill was pastor of the church from 1877 to 1891, succeeding the Rev. William Best, during whose ministry Baptist work began at Burley Road and Beeston Hill.