These strokes of mortality appear to have been sanctified--a spirit of prayer has been excited--and a morning prayer-meeting established to seek divine direction in the choice of a pastor. And on Sunday, Aug. 15th, 1824, the present pastor, Mr. Abraham Nichols, then under the care of Dr. Steadman, and a member of the church at Rawden, under the care of Mr. Hughes, preached his first sermons at Keighley, and baptized two persons at Turkeymill. From this time his visits to Keighley became frequent; and on the first of November, he received an invitation to become pastor. On the 30th of January, 1825, he accepted the invitation, and preached from Rom. xv. 30, to the end. Things now began to wear rather an animating appearance. Some gentlemen were at the expense of fitting up a baptistry; and Mr. Jos. Town, youngest son of the above-mentioned Mr. Town, presented the minister with a Bible and hymn book for the pulpit. This gentleman is a deacon of the Baptist church at Leeds, under the care of the Rev. J. Acworth, A.M. A subscription was also entered into for the liquidation of the debt upon the chapel; and on the 25th of December, 1825, the friends, at the close of two sermons by Mr. Stephens of Rochdale, realized the sum of £166 0s. 6d., including £30 each from the two Mr. Towns, £15 from a sister, and £10 from a brother-in-law; with many other equally noble sums, according to the ability of the parties. On the 15th of August, 1826, Mr. Nichols was ordained, when Mr. Mann, late of Mazepond, London, stated the nature of a gospel church; Mr. Hughes offered the ordination prayer; Dr. Steadman delivered the charge, from 2 Sam. x. 12; and Mr. Godwin addressed the church, from 1 Thess. v. 12, 13. In 1829 the singing gallery was altered, and the bottom of the chapel pewed; also, a very substantial and convenient house was built for the minister, which cost about £260, towards the expense of which there was £188 (duty off) left as an endowment by J. Holmes, Esq., of Stanbury, near Haworth, and which could be appropriated to no purpose but for the advantage of the minister. In 1830, the burial-ground having been enlarged on each side, a portion of the debt was removed. In 1834 and 1835, the ground was again enlarged, by the addition of 312 yards; and a new school-room erected, towards which, including a grant through the British and Foreign School Society, the subscriptions and collections, &c., have amounted to about £220. The Sabbath-school contains near 100 children; the congregation, including 91 families or parts of families, will average from 300 to 400; the number of members, near 70. The following persons have been deacons of the church, viz.: