After the death of the Reverend John Cramp, Salem was without a Pastor for a year. A Mr Jones from Birmingham had made a favourable impression but he seemed to have difficulty in coming to a decision so the people of Longford became tired of waiting and turned to William Butler of Kegworth. He had been born in Ashby-de-la-Zouch but moved to Loughborough in his early years.
At 16 years of age he was converted and joined the church at Cauldwell; the thatched building remains today as a
private residence.
In 1821 he entered the Wisbech Academy having walked there from Overseal.
In 1828 he was invited to Salem on a salary of £60 per annum of which 10 shillings a week was guaranteed from a school
he was going to run.
Again there was a delay but Reverend Butler eventually accepted the invitation on 18th July 1828.
In August 1828 he was duly settled. He was a man of robust constitution and great zeal; an incessant labourer; a
popular preacher and having real business aptitude.
Despite problems raising sufficient salary during his ministry, the number of members increased from 101 to 134 during
his time here.
In 1834 Reverend Butler moved to Heptonstall Slack in Yorkshire (west of Halifax). In his first year at Heptonstall, 56 people were baptised. During his time at Heptonstall, the building was enlarged and the numbers of the Fellowship grew. It reached its height in 1844 with 502 members and 700 attending the school and became the fourth largest church in the general Baptist denomination. Due to illness Reverend Butler ceased to take an active part in the church. He remained the recognised Pastor for the next 12 months but was seriously impaired by a large tumour on the vertebrae column near the shoulder. This was removed but symptoms of paralysis appeared, ending in his death. He died on 19th April 1850 aged 49. At Reverend Butler's own wish, his mortal remains were laid to rest beneath his study window in the Chapel graveyard.
| References: | Salem Baptist Church |
| Third Jubilee: Geo Buckley | |
| The Baptists of Yorkshire: C.E, Shipley | |
| Heptonstall Slack Baptist Church Centenary: B.G. Thomas |