THE teachings of the Swedish philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg gained early adherents in Keighley, who in 1789 formed the first Swedenborgian – or New Jerusalem – Society in Yorkshire.
This was their early temple or meeting house, built in 1805 in King Street, where Acres Mill, belonging to member Berry Smith, adjoined and eventually expanded round it.
Yet for most of the 19th century this remained a peaceful corner, embellished with a text from Swedenborg above the door: "All religion hath relation to life, and the life of religion is to do good."
By 1891, when they moved into more ambitious premises in Devonshire Street, the Keighley Swedenborgians mustered 63 members, with 62 scholars and 24 teachers in their Sunday School. They also ran a sick club and a library of 500 volumes. Their secretary for many years was Alfred Bottomley, father of the Keighley born poet and playwright Gordon Bottomley.
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