From Twenty Golden Candlesticks! Or A History Of Baptist Nonconformity In Western Wiltshire by W. Doel, first published 1890:
Chapmanslade is a village about two miles from Dilton Marsh, and three from Westbury, on the road leading to Frome. It lies in the two parishes of Dilton Marsh, and Corsley; Short Street is a hamlet at a little distance.
The Episcopal Church did not exist here until 1867, when a small one was built, so that in the last century the place had a small Independent chapel only.
In the year 1777 a person of the name of Daniel Grey came to a friend’s house at Chapmanslade and preached; many people went to hear him, and desired he would come again, which he did the next Lord’s day. After that he preached constantly for some time.
He was succeeded by several young ministers, students of the Countess of Huntington, who generally conducted the service in the morning, and a Mr. Britton in the afternoon.
This went on until 1779, when a Mr. Hopkins (who was then a member of the Countess of Huntington’s Society, and was afterwards the pastor of the Baptist Chapel in Eagle Street, London, till he died) first began to preach for them, and continued to do so for some time.
When the supplies from this society declined to come any longer, a Mr. Gideon Hunt, a member of the Church at Westbury Leigh, together with a Mr. John Watts, and a few others, applied to the Baptist Church at Leigh, for help in conducting their services.
Mr. Joseph Clift, who had been called by the Church at Leigh to the ministry, came and preached almost constantly, until at length his labours were shared by other churches. He continued to supply them once a month, with three other preachers, viz., Mr. Tucker, Mr. Whitchurch, and Mr. William Clift (brother of Joseph). This lasted until Mr. Joseph Clift was called to the pastoral care of the newly-formed Church at North Bradley in 1792.
Conversions to God being manifest in several who had attended these services, the friends consulted Mr. Marshman, the pastor of Leigh, and agreed, after long seeking the Lord for guidance and help, to form themselves into a Church.
Accordingly, on July 6th, 1788, Mr. Marshman baptised the following eight persons:-
Anthony Wilkins
Daniel Watts
William Baber
Ann Harris
Ann Wilkins
Mary Rymer
Mary Bunn
Ruth Watts
These, with Gideon Hunt, who had been a member at Leigh, met the same day, and were formed into a Church of Christ by Mr. Marshman. The Church was thus evidently planted by the Church at Westbury Leigh, and is accordingly another descendant from the old Church at Southwick.
They entered into the following covenant:-
“That we be a Church, baptised upon a personal profession of faith, holding the doctrines of the glorious Trinity of persons in the Unity of the Divine Essence, Election, Particular Redemption, Effectual Calling, and Final Perseverance of the Saints, Pardon and Justification by the Blood and Righteousness of Jesus Christ.”
Then follow the usual Church rules. This is subscribed by all the members.
Conversions became frequent, and soon after Mr. Kingdom, of Frome, baptised for them nine other persons, who were received into the Church, and in August , 1791, Mr. Marshman again baptised eight persons, who were also received into the Church.
Thus the number of members gradually increased, and the congregation also. At this time they met in a place called the “Wool Shop,” and, finding the room too small to accommodate the increasing congregation, they decided to build a chapel.
A piece of land was purchased, and the chapel nearly completed in 1799, and opened.
Two deacons were chosen, viz., Mr. John Watts, who had been received by letter from the Baptist Church at Frome; and Mr. William Baber. They now sought a pastor, and Mr. William Clift accepted their unanimous invitation to that office, and was ordained June 8th, 1802.
In 1799 Mr. Marshman baptised at Leigh for them, with five others, Mr. John Dymott, who was for so many years the faithful pastor of the Baptist Church at Hilperton.
In 1800 Mr. Clift, the pastor-elect, baptised at Stormore, with several other persons, Mr. Richard Parsons of Dilton Marsh, who was the means of raising the Baptist Chapel at Whitbourne, Corsley; and was pastor of the Church there for 40 years. He fell asleep in Jesus November 14th, 1853. Mr. Parsons was by trade a carpenter, and had worked at the erection of the chapel when a young man.
Mr. James Clift, who was afterwards dismissed to enter the ministry, was also baptised, and became a member of the Chapmanslade Church in 1809. In 1813 the pastor baptised and received, with eight others, Mr. Benjamin Wilkins, a son of Anthony Wilkins, who was one of those who first formed the Church; he also was called to preach the Gospel, and was, from 1828, for 21 years the pastor of the Baptist Church at North Bradley, where his labours were abundantly blessed. This is worthy of observation, that, during the first few years of the history of this village Church, four young men should join it who were called to the ministry, and three, at least, became successful pastors of Churches. God knows where, how, and when to find and call his Elishas.
Mr. Clift’s ministry was much blessed, and he continued to labour here until his death, which took place in August, 1821. Different ministers supplied the Church for about three years, when Mr. W. Eacott, of Trowbridge, after twelve months probation, became the pastor. He was not ordained till April 5th, 1826. At that service Mr. Parsons stated the nature of a Gospel Church, and asked the usual questions; Mr. Dymott, of Hilperton, gave the charge from 2 Timothy ii. 3; Mr. Marshman, of Road, preached to the Church, from 1 Thessalonians v.12 and 13. After labouring in word and doctrine for about sixteen years, he resigned his pastorate, and accepted a unanimous call of the old mother Church at Southwick in November, 1840.
Mr. John Lawrence was the next pastor chosen; he commenced his labours November 28th, 1841. After the first year unpleasant reports were made as to his private character, and the peace of the Church was much disturbed. In September, 1845, the ordinance of the Lord’s supper was broken up, and was not again observed during his stay. The Church refused to pay him his salary, and he left at the end of April, 1846.
Mr. Lawrence appears to have been their last pastor, and to have left the Church in a very unsatisfactory state. The cause has now been carried on by supplies for something like 44 years. Is it not time something should be done for our village Churches, especially in agricultural districts, by the town Churches, who are wealthy, assisting those who are not able of themselves to support a pastor? The faithful few in these districts have a hard fight at present; they have many difficulties and many influences at work against them.
Mr. B. Parsons, of Warminster, a son of the pastor of Whitbourne, for many years presided at their Church meetings, baptised for them, and took a great interest in the Church. For some years now past Mr. S. King, of Warminster, has occupied his place, and, with others, supplies the pulpit.
In 1864 the friends made an effort to raise money to clear off the old debt on the chapel, and were successful in attaining their object; and, having a balance in hand of £19 12s. 7½d., they spent it in putting the chapel in good repair.
The pastor of the old Independent Chapel at Chapmanslade had for many years so displeased his Church and congregation, that he had to conduct the services with his wife and servant only; but he still held on, as the cause had a rich endowment. The members in a body asked, under the circumstances to be allowed to commune with the Baptists, with whom the whole congregation had gone to worship. They were accepted, and both Baptist and Independent Churches for many years worshipped and communed together in love and fellowship.
The old Independent Chapel, for want of repairs, was in a dilapidated state, and after some trouble the minister was disposed of; the trustees decided on taking it down and erecting a new building. The present chapel is a convenient modern building.
Before the Independent members returned to their own house, under the altered circumstances, the Baptist friends held a Church meeting to consider whether they should all unite in one Church, and worship together in both chapels, or divide as they were formerly. The majority, however, decided that it would be best to divide and carry on both Churches. This was in February, 1865. The new chapel was opened in April, 1867.
In 1869 the Baptist friends decided to thoroughly renovate the chapel. Mr. Toone, of Warminster, and the late Mr. Rooke, of Frome (afterwards president of Rawdon College), very kindly interested themselves in raising funds for this purpose. The work was entrusted to Mr. B. Parsons, of Warminster, and was satisfactorily carried out, and the chapel re-opened November 26th the same year. Mr. Wood, of Bristol, preached on the occasion; collections, £6 10s. 0½d. The expense incurred in this improvement was £118 18s. 7½d.
In 1870 a day school was opened in connection with the Church, but it was abandoned the next year.
In July, 1873, the whole of the debt was cleared off, and a new boiler house built.
Although without a pastor, there have from time to time been a great many persons added to the Church by baptism. The last occasion Mr. Parsons officiated was July 18th, 1880, when he baptised three candidates at Stormore. Three were baptised in 1889 by Mr. King, of Warminster.
In 1855, on having some alterations, Mrs. Salter, of Trowbridge, liberally assisted them in paying off their chapel debt of over £80. Since the chapel was built another piece of land was purchased, and added to the burying ground, for £30.
It is interesting to note that in this first burying ground lie the mortal remains of Mrs. Susannah Marshman, the Godly mother of the late Dr. Marshman, of Serampore, one of the first missionaries to India. She was baptised at Westbury Leigh December 25th, 1756, and died July 17th, 1817, aged 83 years. She and her husband had removed their communion to Chapmanslade. Mr. Clift, her pastor, preached her funeral sermon from 1 Corinthians xv.57, words chosen by herself (Baptist Magazine, 1817). A stone is erected to her memory at the left hand entrance to the chapel, and bears also the following inscription:- “Also of John Marshman, her husband, who departed this life August 18th, 1818, aged 78 years.”
The chapel is a neat, plain building, with galleries, and will seat 280 people. The cause is not in a very flourishing state, the membership being smaller than formerly; those who labour and persevere to carry it on need encouragement. The Church is in the Wilts and East Somerset Association.
Deacons: Mr. Eyers. Mr. Culverhouse.
Superintendent, Mr. Eyers.
Members, 34; teachers, 5; scholars, 40.
Ministers.
Various Ministers 1788 – 1802.
Mr. William Clift 1802 – 1821.
Mr. William Eacott 1824 – 1840.
Mr. John Lawrence 1841 – 1846.
Supplies 1846.
A cloud of witnesses around
Hold thee in full survey;
Forget the steps already trod,
And onward urge thy way.