History of Zion Chapel
Calne Christian Bookshop is attached to the wonderful Zion Chapel, which has been in the heart of Calne for 185 years.
Please find below a brief history of the fellowship and Church building.
In the year 1816 a small number of particular Baptists seceded from the "Old Baptist Chapel" which established in 1655, and began meeting in a house situated in front of the present Castle Street Baptist Church in Calne. The house was named Zion Chapel; Services began to be held there in 1817.
The Church continued there until 1827; then removing to premises in the High Street, these premises belonged to a Mrs W. Chivers, who gave the Church leave to use her Ware-room and hay loft, continuing there until the completion of the building you see today.
In 1836 a piece of land was purchased and in the same year building of the present Chapel was begun and completed early 1837. On the 17th May of that year the Chapel was opened for Divine Worship with a service of dedication and thanksgiving, with Mr Hooper of Devizes, Mr Shorter of Stratton and Mr Philpot of Allington the preachers on the day.
This brief account of the history of the beginnings of Zion Chapel, are extracts from an account of the Acts of the Church written by John Mortimer in 1845. He was a member of the Church for fifty years and a deacon thirty four years.
Church members were laid to rest in the grounds of the Church from 1837 - 1864, with 64 graves in place, these were catalogued when major rebuilding work of Phelps Parade took place in 2011. These are situated from the main church door to the Iceland supermarket.
For more information please visit, www.zionchapel.co.uk.
Please find below a brief history of the fellowship and Church building.
In the year 1816 a small number of particular Baptists seceded from the "Old Baptist Chapel" which established in 1655, and began meeting in a house situated in front of the present Castle Street Baptist Church in Calne. The house was named Zion Chapel; Services began to be held there in 1817.
The Church continued there until 1827; then removing to premises in the High Street, these premises belonged to a Mrs W. Chivers, who gave the Church leave to use her Ware-room and hay loft, continuing there until the completion of the building you see today.
In 1836 a piece of land was purchased and in the same year building of the present Chapel was begun and completed early 1837. On the 17th May of that year the Chapel was opened for Divine Worship with a service of dedication and thanksgiving, with Mr Hooper of Devizes, Mr Shorter of Stratton and Mr Philpot of Allington the preachers on the day.
This brief account of the history of the beginnings of Zion Chapel, are extracts from an account of the Acts of the Church written by John Mortimer in 1845. He was a member of the Church for fifty years and a deacon thirty four years.
Church members were laid to rest in the grounds of the Church from 1837 - 1864, with 64 graves in place, these were catalogued when major rebuilding work of Phelps Parade took place in 2011. These are situated from the main church door to the Iceland supermarket.
For more information please visit, www.zionchapel.co.uk.
