THE CHAPEL

One day in 1880, John Pearce, churchwarden at Holy Trinity, saddled up his cob and rode for twenty miles across the downs to Salisbury to confront the bishop about why he intended to leave the Anglican church. “Me Lord, in Easton theparson won’t preach, the teacher cain’t teach and the clerk is mostly drunk and we’m chapel now,” was his message.

John had started work as a ten-year- old carter and now had a business as a shire horse breeder. Like his Tolpuddle contemporaries, he was upset by conditions in Easton Royal and angry with the authorities for their lack of action. The farmers were paying starvation wages and the vicar forecasted paradise for those who stayed content with their lot. 

John returned from Salisbury and joined a small group of Methodists who worshipped at an old barn in Chapel Drang. Popularity grew and a larger chapel was needed. Pledges of money came from congregations raised up on waves of emotion at revival meetings hosted by fundraising Evangelists.

Soon there were sufficient funds for a new building to stand on a piece of ground rented from Savernake estate for 10s per year. The initials of the main benefactors were carved in the bricks of the porch.

The chapel opened in 1899 with great fanfare – the brass band played and excited crowds in their best Sunday outfits gathered for the occasion. With forty- eight youngsters in Sunday School, eighty adult members and a nine-piece silver band, the Methodists became a dynamic force in a village of less than three hundred souls.

Sunday services were taken by local preachers ranging in ability from ‘excellent’ through to ‘quaintly amusing’ and ‘oh no, not him again’. These dedicated men were happy to travel round the fourteen Marlborough circuit chapels on bicycles or pony and traps, with some thinking nothing of walking miles to preach the Gospel as they saw it. The only lady preacher was Miss Henrietta Stagg – resolute, slender, tough and not greatly concerned with the lighter side of life.

The Sunday School thrived with trips to the seaside, Christmas parties, Bank Holiday picnics and sports days. The highlight of the year was Trinity Sunday when after weeks of practice, the children performed their pieces at a day of music and celebration. Everyone wore their best clothes and the girls showed off new hats of which they were very proud. 

In the evening the chapel was always full to overflowing. It was a wonder the roof stayed on as the Methodists of Easton were very fond of singing and well known for making a joyful noise before the Lord. 

On Trinity Monday there was a tea which was free to chapel scholars but other children paid sixpence. There was lard cake and seed cake, no one bothered with the bread and butter. There were speakers from other villages and some of the congregation came from a long way off, making this their annual visit home.

On each Christmas Eve just before midnight, the chapel carol singers would make their way up the village, accompanied by the band, not usually finishing until 3.00 a.m. and sometimes causing displeasure to visitors at the vicarage.

Easton Methodist Chapel filled a need which lasted for several generations, but congregations dwindled and closure came in 1963 when the building was sold and converted into a family home called Chapel Cottage.

Ruins of Easton Chapel

Opening Ceremony

The Chapel before conversion