Woodmancote Evangelical Free Church

Who was the Countess of Huntingdon?

This church owes its existence to the Countess of Huntingdon - the inscription is still visible today and it can be seen high on the front wall below the bell turret.

Selina Shirely was born on the 24th August 1707, later receiving the title when she married the ninth Earl of Huntingdon in 1728. At a time of religious revival the Countess committed her life to Christ her Saviour. She used her position to influence many of the nobility to hear the Gospel as well as helping the poor and the sick. During her long life she gave away a huge fortune to establish scores of churches. She died on the 17th June 1791. The Countess has been called "The Lady of the Revival" an apt title for such a fruitful Christian.

The Connexion

The Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion was formed as a result of forced dissention from the established church of the day. Its adherents were increased by the preaching of George Whitfield of Gloucester, friend and co-worker of John Wesley. Demands for meeting places came from all parts of the country and the Countess took a deep interest in each request. It had never been her intention to secede from the established church and she was upset by the situation. Congregations were described as "societies in the secession patronised by Lady Huntingdon". Thus came into being the "Connexion". A college for the training of men for work of the new dissenting churches was established by the Countess in 1768 in Breconshire.

For more information about the Countess and the Connexion visit the Web site of the Connexion:

History Time Line

{Much of the following information has been provided by Morgan and Gill Pearce - long serving members of the church. Some additional text has been extracted from "The Woodmancote Book" by the now late Hugh Denham}

1822: Acquisition of certificate

By 1822 the names requesting the necessary certificate were all local ones:

• Sam Etheridge, John Fowler Spencer
• John Cull, William Hobbs
• George Arkell, John Stanton
• Thomas Stanton, William Jackson
• James Pitt, Charles Parker

In 1825 the group built a place of worship, and at about the same time they affliliated themselves to the Countess of Huntingdon Connexion. From this time on, if not before, and indeed until 1920, the congregation came under the wing of North Place Church in Cheltenham. The North Place deacons looked after funds and arranged services, and even, the records say, bought fuel and came out to light the stove.

The 1825 chapel stood on the piece of land at the bottom of Chapel Lane between the lane and the stream. It measured 15 feet by 12 feet.

In 1851 the chapel had afternoon and evening services and a congregation of 50.

1854: Worship ends

When the congregation moved away in 1854 it became a dwelling and apparently at one time a school.

1940: The demise of the Chapel

The last occupant was Mrs Doris Jones. She moved to Nutbridge Cottages in 1939, after which the chapel fell into disrepair, to be demolished in the late 1940s. At this time the chapel was divided into two rooms, a larger and a smaller.

1853: Construction of the new Church

As time went on the Chapel Lane congregation grew to 50, and new and more central premises were needed. In September 1853 the Rev. Wake of North Place Church acquired the freehold of part of the garden of what is now Rose Cottage from the then occupier, Mr Neighbour Hobbs and work began.

The builders cleared the site down to the level of the bottom of the footings, and laid a foot of small stone. On top of this were laid the 23-foot floor joists, many of them reused, possibly from a barn roof, and above these foundations rose the building. All the stone came from Cleeve Hill, with the blocks sawn and dressed in the quarry. The interior measured 30 by 20 feet. Special features were the bell turret, surmounted by a weather vane (replaced by a cross in 1954) and the carved stonework with the Countess of Huntingdon crest and the two attractive heads.

One of the masons on the site was William Denley of Upper Bottomley Farm in Gambles Lane. He carved similar heads for his house and outbuilding at Upper Bottomley, which have been incorporated into the recent new dwelling on that site. The heads on the buildings at Cheltenham Cemetery are also William Denley's characteristic work.

The total cost of construction came to £300, of which £245 had already been raised when the church opened on June 6th 1854.

1854: The new Church opens - Tuesday June 6th

The great day dawned fair and people converged from far and near, many coming from Cheltenham by wagonette. The Chapel was opened for divine worship and the Rev. L. J. Wake commenced the service by reading the Scriptures and prayer. The sermons were delivered, in the afternoon by the Rev. T. Roberts of Gloucester, from 2 Cor. Chapter 3 v 6, and in the evening by the Rev. T. Dodd of Worcester, from Romans Chapter 1, verse 16. In the afternoon tea was served in the chapel, to which 200 are said to have sat down. A year later the denominational magazine reported: "The village stations are going on very well. The new chapel at Woodmancote is filled with hearers and is without debt." Sunday School attendance was reported to be good and "would be even better if there were more pious teachers".

Until 1920 the church at Woodmancote was run from North Place Church. There were six services a month, and the size of the congregation settled down to about 30. Some decline was reported in 1888 in which year communion services at Woodmancote were discontinued, but support revived and the services resumed in 1904. To illustrate the scale of the enterprise, the accounts for the year 1910 show that the collections throughout the year totalled £8.1.11^1/2; in the same year the Chapel Renovation Fund raised, and more or less spent £22.6.0 with 45 donations ranging from 2/- to £5, and the August Bank holiday sale of work on behalf of the proposed institute raised £27.7.1.

One special occasion was the 1913 North Place Sunday School's annual treat. All the children were brought out to Woodmancote in hired brakes and the treat was held in the garden of a bungalow. The treat was so successful that the same arrangements were made for 1914, but they had to be cancelled because of the outbreak of war the previous day.

1906: Lack of trustees

A curious situation came to light in 1906. It turned out that the Rev. Wake had conveyed the rules of the church and the deeds to eight trustees - mainly outsiders, but they included Mr F. W. Willcocks, thought to be an ancestor of some of the present church members. These trustees had not been replaced according to the rules, and all were now deceased, so that there was no longer a legal way to appoint new trustees. Eventually in 1910, after making detailed enquiries, the Countess of Huntingdon Trustees decided to assume responsibility for the Woodmancote Church, and to make a 20% grant towards the big new project that was afoot there. The legal position was resolved a year later, when the Charity Commissioners, without consulation, made an order vesting in them the trusteeship of the Woodmancote church.

1912: Non-sectarian Institute

There was a big new project to buy "the cottage next door" (presumably Chapel Cottage, though it could conceivably have been Rose Cottage), and build an extension in the garden for a Village institute. However, the plan was overtaken by events. In 1912 a non-sectarian Institute opened in Station Road where the shops now are.

The church did buy Chapel Cottage in 1920. The cost was £80 with a £40 mortgage and the cottage was rented out bringing in a balance of £4 per annum.

In the course of the war the Institute in Station Road ceased to function. The congregation therefore took up the cause again, and by 1920 had raised over £70. With this they enlarged the vestry at the back of the chapel, so that it could be used not only as a Sunday School but also as a Village Institute. The vestry had for a long time acted as an unofficial village hall, with meetings of the Parish Council dating back to at least 1907. Now that it was enlarged it was used more. The football team changed there, and for a short while there was an institute. When the new (now "old") Village Hall opened in 1923 these uses ceased.

1920: Formation of a local committee

In 1920 a local committe took over the running of the Woodmancote chapel and North Place Church faded from the picture. The tinkling of the bell in Stockwell Lane on a Sunday morning has always been one of the most evocative sounds of Woodmancote, and the same associations are aroused by a perusal of the minute books of the committee from 1920 on. These books are full of details of the people and the life of the Village - Sunday School treats and Harvest Festivals, Sales of Work and Sunday worship, bereavements and anniversaries. The church kept close links with the Cleeve Hill Free Church and supported efforts elsewhere, such as the National Children's Home and the Countess of Huntingdon Mission in Sierra Leone. The list of the Chairmen of the committee is a local roll-call:

• Mr Edginton of Woodmancote Farm
• Mr G.H. Draper of Home Farm
• Mr Allen of Washpool
• Miss Green of Ivydene Post Office Lane
• Mr H.O Smith of Perrin Terrace
• Mr C.R. Tilling of the Pigeon House

In 1926 the Rev. Arther Kew was appointed Missionary to Sierra Leone by the Sierra Leone Mission committee to facilitate his insurance/pension. He was appointed as Honorary Minister at Woodmancote by the Trustees for the period 1926 - 1950, after which he retired from Sierra Leone due to ill health.

In 1927 Mr and Mrs F Tench were elected on the committee and for a period of 23 years were devoted and loyal workers. Mr Fred Tench was the Secretary and Sunday School Superintendant and his wife was the organist. Their joint labours for the church were much appreciated and a crowded church bore witness to their efforts when they were given a loving farewell in September 1950. For 15 years until 1965 Mr Tom Barrible was Secretary. Tom Barrible was a tiny fellow, who never saw a doctor and would walk to Winchcombe or to Tewkesbury or to Cheltenham or to wherever he wanted to go. He departed in 1987 at the age of 96.

In September 1926 Mrs Cotterell resigned as caretaker, and Mrs Little was appointed in her place at £1 a quarter. She lived in Chapel Cottage alongside, "between Heaven and the Devil" as she put it, referring to the Apple Tree public house next door. The cottage itself was "condemned". For instance, Mrs Little had to go outside for water, so Mr Harold Smith made a shelter to keep her dry. Dumpy, kindly and outspoken, with an infectious peal - some would say cackle - of a laugh, she knew everybody and had no enemies. When someone passed on, Daisy Little laid out the corpse. As she engaged in her tasks in the chapel she sang hymns. In 1959 she had to stop work, but the chapel accounts show that they sent her a chicken from time to time. She died a year later.

The Chapel Cottage was condemned as unfit for habitation in the late 1940s as the County Council wished to improve the sharp bend in the road outside. The Council (Rural District Council) agreed that Mrs Little should continue to live in the cottage but it would be pulled down when she died or moved out. After she died, the cottage remained empty until it was sold in 1965, the proceeds of the sale being £650.00. This money was invested in a new extension to the Chapel for the creation of a kitchen and toilet. The new owners of the cottage had the Council order for demolition removed and built an extension with the road remaining unchanged.

The church in 1953:

1959: The first pastor - Rev. R. Wesley Hemming

Mr Wesley Hemming was not accepted as Pastor at Woodmancote by the Trustees of the Connexion, though a minority group within the church wanted him. During a period of approximately 2 years, there were 2 splits in the congregation resulting in Mr Hemming leaving and taking with him a number of the church members. Sometime after, the remaining members of the congregation reunited.

1964: An account of the 'Festival of Carols'

Taken from a local paper report, December 1964:

A festival of carols held at Woodmancote Free Church Chapel was well attended in spite of icy conditions.The singers included a small group of Sunday School children, and Mary Pearce sang the first verse of "Once in Royal David's City" unaccompanied. Readings of the story of Christmas were by Mr and Mrs H Smith, Mrs M Pearce and Miss Jennifer Tibbles. The main lights were dimmed for each reading and for the carol, "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks", the only lights being from a coloured 11-candle candelabra. The Christmas tree was decorated by the Sunday School children. The service was conducted by the Sunday School Superintendent, Mr M Pearce. Miss Jane Mills was at the organ and piano.

The church in the 1970's:

1972: The second pastor - Rev. H.E. Long

Ordained at Woodmancote on Saturday 27th July, 1974.
- The Presiding minister for the service was Rev. Gilbert Kirby M.A, Principal of the London Bible College. Prayers were said by Rev. Norman Lloyd from North Place Church, with scripture readings by Mr Quinton DeAth, Secretary to the Trustees of the Connexion. The Ordination Prayer was said by the Rev. K. Toms from Cambray Baptist Church.

Retired in 1982

1988: The third pastor - Douglas Bell

	October 1988	Sunday afternoon services only
	January 1989	Became working member of Bishop's Cleeve Ecumenical Council
	February 1992	Introduced regular Sunday morning and evening services
	1989-1996	Ecumenical House Group, Bible Studies
	1991-1993	Leader of "Little Angels" toddlers group
	1991-1997	Leader Rectory Court Bishop's Cleeve Bible Study Group
	1992-1998	Free Church Chaplain (Winchcombe Hospital)
	1993-1998	Free Church Chaplain (Delancy Hospital Cheltenham)
	1995-1998	Member of Countess of Huntingdon's Sierra Leone Committee
	1996-1997	President Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion
	March 1997	Visit to Countess of Huntingdon's Churches and Schools in Sierra Leone
	1991-1998	Member of Woodmancote Parish Council
	1993-1997	Chairman of Woodmancote Parish Council
	1992-1994	Governor of Woodmancote Junior School
	1993-1996	Gloucester Education Appeals Board
	1993-1997	Tewkesbury District Scouts Leaders Selection Board

Retired in 1998

1999: The fourth pastor - Keith Linzner

Mr Keith Linzner agreed to be become the fourth pastor of the church in January 1999 and was formally inducted as pastor on 5 June 1999, taking up residency in Woodmancote in July. This followed a period of time (April 1998 - January 1999) that the church was without a pastor after the retirement of Douglas Bell. During the period that the church was without a pastor, services continued with various itinerent preachers leading worship. Keith attended frequently on various Sundays leading up to his induction to lead services and to spend time with the fellowship of the church, coming as he and his wife did from his own local church of Turners Hill Free Church. Many people within the church provided accommodation and meals for both Keith and his wife Ruth during these visits.

Inducted Saturday 5th June, 1999
Keith's induction service took place on Saturday 5th June 1999 at 2.30pm. The service was held in the new village hall in Woodmancote. The hall was packed to capacity with a mix of local people and many who had come from Keith's previous church at Turners Hill.
The Presiding Minister was the Rev. Norman Lloyd, with Dick Lucas as guest preacher.

Order of service

Welcome and Call to Worship:
Hymn: "All hail the power of Jesus' Name!"
Prayer: Paul Asterley - Pastor of Turners Hill Free Church
The Lord's Prayer
Scripture Reading: A word of encouragement. Peter Lake - President of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connection and Deacon at Turners Hill
Hymn: "To God be the glory! great things He hath done!
Statements by:

Rev. Norman Lloyd - the Presiding Minister
Gareth Howell - on behalf of Woodmancote Evangelical Free Church
Keith Linzner - the Pastor Elect

The local church
The Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion
The Sierra Leone Mission
Other local churches

After the Induction Service, refreshments were provided and everyone enjoyed a time of fellowship together. After the refreshments, for those visitors who were interested, there was an opportunity to visit the church building and find out about some of the history of the church in Woodmancote.

A wonderful opportunity presented itself at Keith's induction service, in that the two previous pastors were present, together with the new incumbant. The picture below captures the moment.

From left to right: Douglas Bell, Edward Long and Keith Linzner.

As the church continues its Christian witness within the Woodmancote community, information relating to events within the church will be documented. Details about recent events can be found in the News
Return to home page.