Common Close Congregational Church, Warminster, 200th Anniversary
From Common Close Congregational Church 200th Anniversary Programme 1919:
Special Services and Meetings in celebration of the above will be held as follows:
On SUNDAY, JUNE 22nd, 1919, Services will be conducted by the REV. E. ANTHONY, M.A. (Of Trowbridge).
On WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25th, at 4 p.m., a Sermon will be preached by REV. J.D. JONES, D.D., (Of Bournemouth).
There will be Tea in the Schoolroom at 5.30 (Tickets 9d.), and a Public Meeting in the Church at 6.45.
W.J. MANN, ESQ., Of Trowbridge, will preside, and DR. J.D. JONES will give an Address.
Collections for Bicentenary Thankoffering Fund.
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1719 – 1919
The exact date of the formation of the Independent (or Congregational) Church at Common Close is uncertain, but as near as can be ascertained services were commenced on June 26th, 1719. A Presbyterian Church had existed in Warminster for many years previous to this, services being first held in a barn in Beastleaze Meadow. The congregation subsequently removed, in 1691, to a larger building in Meeting House Lane (now North Row), this being superseded in 1704 by the erection of the building now used as the Girls’ Council School, and long known by the name of the “Old Meeting.” Here, a large and influential congregation worshipped for many years, but in 1719 the then minister, the Rev. Samuel Bates, was suspected of a tendency to Unitarian doctrines, and there was a considerable secession from the Church; and it was these seceders who established the Independent Church, or, as it was first called, the “New Meeting.” It may be noted, by the way, that the later ministers of the “Old Meeting” preached distinctly Unitarian doctrines, and the congregation gradually dwindled away and eventually died out in 1860.
BI-CENTENARY THANKOFFERING
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As a Thankoffering to Almighty God for the blessings vouchsafed to the Church during the 200 years of its existence, it is hoped to raise the sum of £200 for carrying out much-needed repairs and alterations to the Church, and the help of past and present members of the congregation is solicited for this object. Contributions to the amount of £75 have already been promised, and any further donations will be gladly acknowledged by the Treasurer, Mr. S. Webb, High-street, Warminster; or the Secretary, Mr. E.S. Foreman, Portway, Warminster.