OUR CHURCH was born on 20th October 1846. This day, the following individuals voluntarily united into a Christian church (known as the Independent Church) and were baptised by the Rev I Islip, Independent Minister of the Star Lane Chapel, Stamford, followed by a sacrament of the Lord's supper, viz: William Ward, Robert Howe, John Presgrave, Elizabeth Presgrave, Eleanor Presgrave and Mary Howe.

Tablets to the memory of Elizabeth (wife of John) and Eleanor are on the east wall. Mr J Presgrave was elected clerk. Four members were elected to consider fees for burying in the front of the church - one tombstone still remains - brick graves for families £1, re-opening such graves 5s., sexton's fees 5s., single adult interment 6s., children under five 2s. 6d. and up to 12 years 4s. Minister's fees were voluntary.

Mrs Elizabeth Presgrave died on 23rd May 1851, first burial in the church grounds. As stated above, tablets were erected to her memory and to that of Eleanor Presgrave in our church and the cost to the church including architect's fees amounted to £418.

No one was permitted to take communion unless a member of some Christian church. Collections, subscriptions, hymn books and seat rents for the first year amounted to £22.13s.6d. The minister's stipend being £15.

Monthly meetings from February to December 1847 recount the receiving into membership of 16 persons. The minutes in those early days chiefly consisted of the names of intending members, each of whom were interviewed by two members of the church whose recommendations for membership were accepted at the following meeting. January 1849 - chapel cleaner to be paid £4 per annum.

Mr Pinney and Mr Anderson who shared the ministry of the church were paid £20 each per annum. That year a management committee of seven (five to form a quorum) was appointed and the sum of £1 was given to John Camm out of the funds for poor members. John Camm was emigrating to Australia.

In August 1850, Mr Anderson resigned from his part time ministry, due to (his letter stated) "the overwhelming claims of my large and expensive family, to enable him to devote himself more fully to professional matters and to other kindred engagements which, though less suited to his taste and feelings, will yet it is hoped be more adapt to the peculiar providential circumstances in which he was then placed." Mr Anderson agreed to act as 'full time' minister at a stipend of £40, but nine months later he resigned.

Mr Howe and Mr George White (later to become an M P) were appointed as first deacons, the former's death in January 1852 revealed that he was also Superintendent of the Sunday School, the first mention of a Sunday School being attached to the church.

In April 1852, Mr Knight accepted an invitation to become minister at a stipend of £60 plus £2. 5s. for travelling expenses with a month's break for “recreation”.

In December that year concern was expressed that Mr Newton had commenced Sunday baking in his oven on a Sabbath day and the minister was requested to visit him and inform him that the church would be obliged to cut him off from their fellowship unless such Sunday baking was given up, and that he should not sit down at the Lord's table until the matter had been settled. There was further consternation in the church when the minister "from various causes felt unhappy" and since he saw no prospects of peace and comfort of mind, he tendered his resignation which was accepted. The troubled times continued to the Spring of 1853 when the observance of the Lord's Supper was not administered at present while the minds of the members are in such an excited state.

At the same time, the minutes record that a request from the Primitive Methodists to hold a Missionary meeting in the church was refused.

By 1857, the minister's stipend had been increased to £80 per annum.

In 1857, Mr John Presgrave, the only trustee, died suddenly and Mr T W Mays, Mr George White and Mr Hugh Hobson were appointed trustees.

Two lines in the minute book for 1867 must be the shortest year's record anywhere. They stated that church meetings had been held each month, the only business being the transfer of two members, one each to Ketton and Stamford churches.

In 1868, Mr Hobson, a member of the church, created a disturbance in the polling booth at a general election and in a fit of rage he accused the minister of being the greatest scoundrel in the town and threatened him with personal violence. This conduct resulted in him being expelled from the church.

In March 1870, the church meeting agreed that the practice of two members visiting intended candidates for membership in the church be dispensed with, the minister to announce such new members names at the meeting preceding the one in which it was proposed to admit them. NB: For years now the names of intended members are brought before the Elders' Meeting, who bring their recommendations to the next church meeting.

In October 1874, the members agreed to be connected with the Congregational Union and so the Bourne Congregational Church came into being.

The accounts for that year showed an income of £166 17s. 4d. and an expenditure of £157 15s. 1d. of which the minister's stipend was £130. Weekly offerings for the year were just under £68.

It was resolved that members absenting themselves from the Lord's Table for more than three months without sufficient cause be “waited upon” by the minister, deacon or some other member so appointed by the church, the result of their interview to be reported at the next meeting.

Six months absence being equivalent to withdrawing as church member. In September 1880, two members were removed from the church roll for this reason.

A special meeting in June 1877 was called to receive donations to clear off the debt of £21 for renovating the chapel and some £26 13s. 0d. was subscribed, the balance to be used for helping to pay for the repairs to the harmonium.

The appointment of a “chapel keeper” was agreed at a quarterly payment of £1 6s. 0d., plus 10s. from the Sunday School, per annum with an annual allowance of 5s. for kindling.

At the New Year's meeting in 1879, there was a balance of £10 19s. 0d. from a total income of £163 18s. 0d. but the quarterly payment to the minister of £20 was outstanding.

A bazaar held early in 1880 raised the sum of £32.

In April 1881 the first mention of wine at a communion service and it was agreed that unfermented wine be used in the future. The next year proved one of financial embarrassment for the treasurer who was owed £34 plus at the end of March and a further £15 10s. three months later. The minister took the members to task for not making an effort to get the church out of debt.

This rebuke had the desired effect for by the end of the year, the only deficit was a sum of £10 due for alterations. On 10th January 1883 the minister's request for an increase in his stipend was not entertained "as present circumstances did not warrant such a step, and it would be unwise to incur obligations when there were no apparent means of meeting them." The following Sunday the minister announced his resignation to take effect on 1st April.

The financial statement showed a deficit of some £17 and with a view to putting the church's finances on a more sound basis, it was agreed that members be asked to co-operate by contributing through an envelope system "such sums as their respective circumstances would permit." It was hoped that through this scheme it might be possible to pay an increased stipend to their minister.

The Rev A Eason commenced his ministry in August (stipend £120 per annum) and a bazaar held later in the year in the Corn Exchange realised £20 10s.

January 1884: A New Year tea and meeting was attended by some 120 and finances showed a credit balance of £21. In the autumn, a Band of Hope was formed. The next year the minister received an additional stipend of £10 per annum. A disturbance in the gallery by the children came up for discussion at the October church meeting and five gentlemen agreed to sit in the gallery in turn to "preserve order."

The first mention of a church secretary was in the election of my father [Frederick Sones] in December 1885 when it was agreed that that office should be one subject to an annual election.

A bazaar organised for 28th December was held in the Corn Exchange but as the weather proved so unfavourable, the event continued the following day, a decision which was warmly welcomed and gratifying from the financial result as the event realised £42.

The introduction of the envelope system in 1883 was proving beneficial as the accounts for 1885 showed a credit balance of £32 13s.6d. An invitation was extended to the county in March that year to hold the county union meeting in the autumn. It took place on the 1st and 2nd November when tea was given only to the 40 ministers and delegates who attended. In March 1887, on the suggestion of the minister, and to accommodate the needs of aged members, it was agreed to hold communion services on alternate Sunday mornings and evenings.

The question of raising funds for the purchase of an organ was considered at a subsequent special meeting but it was some years later that the present organ was purchased. The church finances were again in an unsatisfactory position. The 1887 accounts showed a credit balance of 1s. and six months later, the treasurer was owed £36 10s. which had been reduced by £27 by the end of the year. The minute of the 27th November records “the retiring deacon was almost unanimously elected" and the first mention of appointing auditors for the church accounts was included in the same minute. March 1880 agreed that a sum of 10s. be sent "at a convenient date" to the Congregational Union.

Following the resignation the previous month of their minister who had accepted an invitation from the Sleaford church, a special meeting was called to consider the appointment of a new minister and the decision as to whether he should be single or married being left to the deacons.

The Rev T H Parker, having accepted an invitation to the pastorate, commenced his ministry in June 1890 at a stipend of £110 and in May the following year a new chapel cleaner was appointed, pay 3s. per week. The end of the year saw a satisfactory financial position so that £15 was donated towards clearing the debt on the organ and a £10 gift was made to the minister, it also being agreed to raise his stipend by a similar sum each year. At the AGM, the minister reported that 15 new members had been received into the church during 1890 and that since he commenced his ministry, he had made 190 home visits amongst the members of the congregation.

In June 1892, a special meeting was called to consider the present state of the church and schoolroom and in view of the inadequate accommodation in the school and uncomfortable sittings in the church, some alterations were agreed to, plans to be drawn up, some 500 circulars and 250 collection cards to be purchased inviting donations and that when £300 had been raised, work should be put in hand without delay. The accounts for the year showed the largest balance in the church's history of £43 15s. and a donation of £13 to clear the organ fund and a further £5 donation to the minister, being agreed upon. The members agreed to hold the county union meetings at Bourne in the spring of 1903.

At the 1895 New Year meeting the minister was given a further gift of £10, the two organists, Mrs Castledine and Mrs Branston, were each given £5 which they immediately returned towards the school fund. The annual subscription to the county union was increased to £1 and a subscription list was opened for donations towards the estimated cost of £24 for a new piano for the school scholars, and to mark the jubilee celebrations in 1896, a bazaar should be held for the new school fund.

In 1896, the minister's stipend was fixed at £130 as from 1st January with the understanding there should be no further gifts to their pastor. The jubilee anniversary services on Sunday and Monday were conducted by the Rev W J Woods BA, secretary of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, and the Rev W J Butler, of Peterborough.

An estimate from Mr A Stubley for the cleaning and painting of the church for between £30 and £35 was accepted. Following this work, the accounts showed a deficit of £3 12s. at the end of 1899 and subscriptions were requested to clear this debt. In October 1899, instead of holding a bazaar, donations were requested which resulted in £30 being subscribed.

The new schoolroom was opened on 17th January 1900 by Alderman George White JP (a former scholar) and some 400 sat down to tea whilst a sum of £58 was raised during that special day. Consideration of the finances of the church was again the subject of a discussion at the end of that year when it was agreed that offerings should be taken week by week from pew to pew. (NB: I cannot find any reference as to how the income was raised in the preceding years.)

Rev T H Parker, having accepted an invitation to the ministry of the church at Horwich, Lancashire, in the spring of 1908, it was agreed that supplies for the pulpit be continued until July before an invitation be extended to fill the vacancy, that a stipend of £110 for a single student from college and £120 for a married minister was offered, it being the considered opinion of the deacons that a sum in excess of £125 was beyond the present finances of the church. At the same time it was agreed that only one name at a time should be considered for the vacancy.

That a scheme be prepared for building a new church and provision of a new organ. The Rev J C Jones, having accepted the invitation to the pastorate, arrangements were made for his ministry to start before the end of the year.

The church members agreed to a recommendation from the deacons that, owing to the repairs to the building being considerably heavier every fourth year, that a sum of £5 each year be placed in a "repairs account."

By the end of that year the income had exceeded £200. In March 1909, a donation of £50 had been received from the estate of the late Mrs J Branston and the organ fund showed a balance of £65. It was agreed to purchase a new organ for a sum not exceeding £200, the church members being asked to donate £35 within a month.

In May 1910, individual cups for communion services were purchased at a cost of £3 10s. and a small set for £1 10s. for use by the minister when visiting sick members in their homes. The appointment of a hospitality secretary to obtain a list of these members who would be willing to entertain pulpit supplies and other visitors to the church was agreed.

The committee dealing with the proposed alterations to the church building and the purchase of a new organ were given authority to expend a sum not exceeding £8.8s on professional advice.

The church members agreed to their recommendations on 8th March 1911 to the extension of the gallery, the pulpit to be moved from the centre of the church to its present position and a new organ placed on the north side of the choir stalls. A hot water system to replace the old coke stove (which stood on the south side of the church (the old chimney breast still visible on the outside wall) with four radiators at a cost of £60, the proposed new organ not to exceed £155 and the additions and alterations to the building estimated to be £340. Work to commence in May and be completed by October. Donations and interest free loans being sought, any balance outstanding to be met with a mortgage. Seat pews rents to remain at 1s. per seat per quarter (10d. per seat in the gallery.)

The opening of the church after the alterations was performed on 1st November 1911 together with the dedication of the new organ. A brief service outside the church was conducted by the minister, prayers were offered by the Vicar of Bourne, Rev T C Lawson, and a silver key was presented by Mr George White (now an MP) who formally declared the building open.

A silver key was presented to AIderman W R Wherry JP who formally declared the new organ open. The service which followed was addressed by the Rt Hon Sir Joseph Compton-Rickett MP followed by a tea in the schoolroom attended by some 450 people. In the evening an organ recital was given by Mr Rest Cartwright, builder of the organ. At the public meeting which followed, the financial statement showed that £624 had been expended on the alterations and £204 on the new organ. To date, a sum of over £347 had been donated or raised and a further £51 was given at a further organ recital the following evening.

With a view to wiping off the outstanding balance, a bazaar was arranged to be held on the Abbey Lawn for two days in June 1912. Earlier that year, Mr W A Swift was appointed organist at a salary of £6 per annum.

In 1914, a suggestion was made that some effort should be made towards helping to relieve the distress of the Belgian refugees, details being sought from the secretary of the Belgian Refugees committee. It was agreed that one Belgian family should be housed in one of the Sunday School cottages at the west end of the schoolroom (now demolished), providing the church members contributed not less than £1 per week. Mrs Vanderberg and her family were so housed. One of her daughters remained in this country after the war, was employed as a basket maker by the late Mr George Stafford, married a local resident and her son (Mr Graham Luesby) and her daughter (Mrs Pat Broxholme) still reside locally.

The setting up of the Bourne United Charity Trust in 1915 was considered by the members who made representations to the Charity Commissioners that one member of the trustees should be a representative of the Free Churches. This was not accepted by the Commissioner who decreed that the 15 members should be: the Vicar of Bourne for the time being, six nominated by the local town council, three from the Friendly Societies, two magistrates, one from the Board of Guardians (now a member from the county council) and two co-opted members making 15 in all. This trust was formally sealed on 16th July 1915 and still remains in force today.

In May 1916, the organist, Mr Ashby Swift, joined the RFC [Royal Flying Corps] and Mr Walling, a local tradesman, was appointed to fill the vacancy. At the same time the organ blower's payment was increased 50% to £1 10s per annum to include both Sunday services and choir practice. In 1918, a letter from the YMCA inviting ministers in the county to place their services at the disposal of the association for work amongst the troops at the front for a minimum period of four months in France and six months in the Mediterranean was received. All travelling, board and accommodation and the necessary uniform would be provided, and grants towards pulpit supplies were available where necessary.

The deacons recommendations that the Rev Jones be released from his church duties for six months, his stipend to be paid for such period, and applications be made to the organisation towards the pulpit supplies were approved by the members. A bazaar held on the Abbey Lawn in August 1918 raised £321, £36 10s. being donated to the Prisoners of War fund and the remaining £285 being made available for church funds which enabled the balance of £250 still outstanding on the alterations to the church premises some six years earlier to be cleared. The following. month, the pastor returned from France, 70 members being present at a welcome home party.

The question of reviving the work of the church was raised at a deacons' meeting and the minister commented that if they thought a change of pastorate was desirable and would be beneficial to the church, he would willingly tender his resignation. His suggestion that the deacons meet in private and discuss the matter was brought before a church meeting and the majority present agreed that a change in the pastorate would be desirable. In April 1919, the Rev Jones intimated he was willing to retire from the pastorate “in whatever way was best suited to the interests of the church”. It was agreed that the resignation take effect at the end of the year, at the same time his stipend was increased as from 1st January 1919 to £150. Earlier in the year, to mark his 60th birthday, Mr W Castledine who owned the mill subsequent1y taken over by Mr J S Notley [now demolished] presented the mortgage deeds for £300 held on the school property, thereby freeing the church of all debt. At the same time, the half year's interest due the previous month was waived.

1919 ended in a very dramatic fashion. Early in December, the members again considered the Rev Jones' pastorate and a petition signed by 32 members requested that the secretary, Mr F G Wall, interview the minister. This interview took place on 3rd December which "was of a most regrettable character." The minister became too angry to allow any discussion. He made most serious charges against the deacons and the secretary in particular and Mr Wall felt he could no longer carry out the secretarial duties and work with one whose confidence he no longer enjoyed and so regretfully tendered his resignation. Furthermore if the petition was persisted with, the members of the diocanite would be forced to resign. The 40 members present at the subsequent church meeting agreed to withdraw the petition and Mr Casteldine agreed to act as secretary pro tem.

The Rev Jones' ministry ended in even more dramatic circumstances on 28th December 1919 when in his farewell sermon he said that after five years indecision and after very prayerful study, he had come to the decision that the Church of England not only made room for the Holy Spirit in her system but that system seemed to be largely the work of the Holy Spirit. He had therefore made arrangements with the Vicar to be confirmed at the next confirmation service. (l well remember the consternation the decision of the minister caused throughout the church and the same night some of the deacons met to discuss the future, somewhat in a state of disbelief). The Rev Jones was eventually appointed priest in charge at Edenham.

Following the departure of the Rev Jones, Mr F G Wall agreed to take up his duties as church secretary. In 1920 the organist [Ashby Swift] returned after his discharge from the RFC, his salary being increased immediately to £15 per annum, and the organ blower also had an increase in his remuneration, an additional £1 per annum.

The previous year, one lady member was appointed a deacon and at the New Year meeting it was agreed that a second lady become a deacon. Some 20 lady members offered themselves for election, a ballot electing Mrs Castledine and Miss Mee. Later that year, an invitation to the Rev J A Halfpenny, minister of the Wycliffe Church, Sheffield, to the pastorate at a stipend of £250, the ministry to be for seven years, was accepted.

In November 1921, there was again trouble in the gallery. The minister was asked to make an appeal for better behaviour and a suggestion was made that no young children should be allowed in the gallery unless accompanied by an adult.

In April 1922, estimates were received for the redecoration of the school room classrooms, varnishing of the ceiling and the outside painting of both schoolroom and church at a cost £148. A bazaar held in the late autumn to meet the cost of this work raised £185. Finance was again a problem three years later when a deficit of some £60 was anticipated by the end of the year.

In 1923, No 51 North Road was purchased as a manse for the minister, then in rented accommodation, for £550. A sum of £350 was taken up as a mortgage (interest 4% per annum), the remainder to be raised by interest free loans. In October 1925, the minister intimated that he had received an invitation to the Abbeydale Church in Sheffield with a substantial increase on his present stipend. A suggestion was made that a special fund be raised by annual subscriptions to augment his present stipend. His reply was that he did not think members should make further sacrifices in order to retain his services, though he was not unmindful or unappreciative of the goodwill shown towards him over the past five years. He affirmed his acceptance of the pastorate which would become effective in the new year.

For the time, the church was without a minister and the deacons recommended that the Moderator, Rev H H Carlisle MA, be asked for help and guidance in selecting a new minister. The stipend was fixed at £230 per annum with the minister responsible for the payment of rates on the manse.

New ground was broken for the appointment of the next minister, a student from Paton College, Nottingham. An invitation to Mr P V Wickenden to the pastorage was originally declined as he intimated he much preferred a larger sphere of labour. A fortnight later, Dr. Henderson, principal of the college wrote to say that Mr Wickenden's mind had undergone a change and, if the invitation was given a second time, he would accept. His assent was greeted with great satisfaction by the members and his ministry commenced in July 1926 and continued till the end of 1931. Tenders were received for the redecoration of the church and Mr A Stubley's figure of £62 was accepted. In January 1927 the organ was found to have been damaged by mice and certain parts had to be removed for repair. Later that year, three friends in the church expressed their intention of replacing the four plain glass windows on the south side of the church with coloured glass, a generous offer that was gratefully accepted.

On 22nd September 1928, 12 new members were received into the fellowship of the church, all Sunday School Scholars (I had joined three years earlier).

Central heating was extended to the Sunday School in January 1930 at a cost of £250, interest free loans totalling £171 having been given towards the cost.

In the spring of 1934, an electric blower was purchased for the organ. It did excellent service with very little maintenance and was only replaced last year. Mr Ashby Swift resigned as organist and Mr T W Bradley was appointed in 1936 to fill the vacancy, a position which he occupied until his death some three years ago.

An approach to the Sunday School trustees that a joint trust of the school and church was not taken up. (It was not until 1980 that a joint trust came into being.)

The installation of electric lights in both church and schoolroom was carried out in 1934 by Mr Ashby Swift at a cost of £77.

At the request of the county union, church members made a visit to Langtoft with a view to the re-opening of the church there, but owing to the disappointing attendance of the villagers (only five turned up) the members reluctantly decided they could not take on the responsibility of the oversight of that church.

Following the departure of the Rev P V Wickenden, a second student from Paton College, Mr Denis Brown, was inducted in 1933 and stayed for four years. Apart from these two pastorates all the ministers in the church's history had previous pastorate experience.

In December 1938, a record number of 15 new members were received into the fellowship of the church, ten of whom were from the Sunday School. The "envelope system" was introduced in 1939 with 42 subscribers. Three years later a new coke boiler was installed at a cost of £60 and the minister agreed to “sit in the vestry” to receive gifts towards this unexpected additional expense which proved most successful as £62 was forthcoming. Pew rents were abolished in 1947 and, to help the church finances, a gift day was instituted in 1949, now of course an annual event.

In 1946 to mark the centenary of the foundation of the church, special celebrations extended from the 4th to the 15th May. An opening service of praise and prayer on the Saturday conducted by the minister, the Rev W J Rees was followed by the Sunday services conducted by Mr Alec Glassey JP, of Goole, a representative of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. During the week, an organ recital was given by Mr Stevens, FGCO, a sacred cantata by the choir and a concert in the schoolroom given by the scholars who were each presented with a suitably inscribed bible. Following the Sunday service, a reunion on the Monday was attended by four former ministers and friends. The celebrations were brought to a successful conclusion by a great women's rally in the church.

The minutes record that throughout the celebrations, a wonderful spirit was maintained. All events were well attended and visitors came from surrounding churches in “goodly numbers”. The whole proceedings were richly blessed and a illustrated brochure was produced containing photographs of the interior and exterior of the church, the minister and his wife, members of the diaconite and Sunday School teachers, together with a brief historical record.

In the 1963 accounts, an item “tax reclaimed from covenanted gifts” appeared for the first time and the amount was £53. So over the last 28 years, annual amounts have been received from the Inland Revenue under this scheme and it has proved a tremendous financial help to the church.

Last year a record sum of £1,130.44 was so claimed, which brought the total for the period 1988-1992 to just under £6,000. Without this source of income our church accounts would be in a sorry state and as a church we are grateful for the generosity of some many members and friends who have entered into covenants for the benefit of our church and its finances.

The manse in North Road was sold in May 1934 as the mortgage was called in and rented accommodation was provided by the church for the ministers, up to the coming to our church of the Rev C Husk, when 97 North Road was purchased in October 1960 for £1,750. Money was raised for this property by outright gifts, interest free loans and a mortgage with a building society.

On the retirement from the pastorate of the Rev Husk, the property was let, first at £2 weekly and subsequently £12 monthly. When the tenant was re-housed by the local authority, the property was sold for £16,000.

All outstanding loans and mortgage had been paid off so the proceeds of the sale were invested in 14½% government stock which brings in a total income of annually of £2,232, which allows the trustees to relieve the general church finances of maintenance and repairs to the church and school. In October 1966, the old coke fired boiler was replaced with a gas fired unit, the installation cost being £391. This unit was replaced in 1990 when the installation account was £2,442.

Following the retirement of the Rev Husk, the Rev T S Kee agreed to become our minister on a 75% basis, originally agreeing for a six month trial. His successful ministry lasted some 10 years before ill health brought about an enforced retirement.

It was through his leadership that the church became one of the many congregational churches which became members of the United Reformed Church, the proposed union taking four years to come to fruition, but in November 1971 our new church was born. The act of union took place at the Central Hall Westminster, followed by a service of thanksgiving in Westminster Cathedral with an overflow covered by close circuit television in St. Margaret's Church.

Along with our minister, I was privileged to represent our church at this historic occasion when for the first time in the country's history, all the main denominations including the Roman Catholic church took part in that memorable service in London.

In January 1976, an approach was made to Stamford for joint pastorate, and in June of that year, the Rev B E Bridge became the first minister of the two churches.

In 1989, an approach was made by the Methodists, following professional advice, not to use their church premises due to structural defects, to join with them to create an ecumenical free church on the site of their present building. This proposal was the main source of discussion at church meetings over a period of some months, but at the church meeting on 10th September 1989, by an overwhelming majority, the members decided not to accept such a step.

The trustee accounts since 1981 reveal that a sum of £27,262 has been spent in repairs and re-decoration of our church and school premises, including the insulated dropped ceiling in the schoolroom and re-plastering the south and north east walls of the church to window level.

These past 146 years have seen many fluctuations in our church's history. Now our numbers are small compared with early years in our history, but we are a very happy and united fellowship.

Our minister, the Rev C I Elliott, has completed his first year amongst us, a year of progress within the fellowship of our community and we can look forward with quiet confidence to the future and, no doubt, our 150th anniversary will be suitably celebrated.