Nonconformist religion has a long history in Market Lavington. The Quaker movement was strong in the 17th century, despite strong persecution. From the early nineteenth century, other branches of Christianity flourished and within the wider parishes of Market Lavington and Easterton there were Wesleyan and Methodist chapels. The survivor of these earlier congregations now goes under the name of Trinity Church. Trinity was formed in a merger of three local churches of which one was the United Reform Church. This group can be traced back to the Market Lavington Independent Church which was formed in 1805 and later it became the Congregational Church.
During 2010, its 1895 building was sold, but the church body continues to meet and worship – in the Community Hall. There will be a display about the church at the museum this year. To set the scene let’s look at some of the church members in the 1960s.
Some Congregational Church members in the 1960s - a photo at Market Lavington Museum
Here we see, from left to right;
Mrs Theresa Gale
Mrs Sam Hopkins
Mr Harry Hobbs
Mrs Elsie Powner
Rev Bertram Powner
Mr Dickie Burt
Mrs Ada Bishop
We do not know the occasion but this has the style of a press photo of the era, where the newspaper hoped to get more money by selling glossy enlargements to the people shown.
Tags: church, Easterton, Fiddington, Market Lavington, Museum, photograph, Religion
Market Lavington Museum 
April 3, 2011 at 6:20 am |
Several people on this photo I remember – none more so than the Rev Powner for he married my wife and I in the chapel November 1970.