Rook Lane Congregational Church Frome Somerset

Built in 1707 for the Independent Meeting known as Rook Lane Congregational Church, and occupied by them for over 260 years, the building is now home to NVB Architects and the Rook Lane Arts Trust.

Although no longer in possession of the old building, Rook Lane Congregational Church still exists today and is a member of the Congregational Federation (nationally), and of the CF South West Area (locally). It is also in membership of FACT (Frome Area Christians Together).

Normally the church meets as an “all age Sunday School” in the Frome Cricket Club at 10.30 am on Sunday morning. On the 3rd Sunday of the month we can usually be found, again at 10.30 am, in the Blue House where we hold a more formal and traditional Sunday service.

Occasionally we hold joint services with other churches, sometimes in our venues and at other times in theirs. Once or twice a year a joint FACT Service may be held and we would normally join in these also. For details of any variations see the Events page.

The Church has traditionally, (certainly since 1795), concentrated on work involving youth; through its Sunday School; through the local and National Sunday School Union (latterly NCEC now Christian Education); through support for the London Missionary Society (now CWM); and latterly through People Against Poverty’s work in Nepal supporting Education.

The Christian Ethos of “Love Thy Neighbour” is manifest by its work with the Sick and Elderly (Rook Lane Sick Man’s Friend Society); through regular monthly support to the Frome Food Bank; sharing in the work of the Frome Churches in providing a weekly Service for patients in the hospital; regular giving to The Leprosy Mission and other Social Responsibility activities. Individual members can also be found working in Oxfam, hospital visiting, working with Royal British Legion etc.

If you love the Lord Jesus Christ, (or are seeking Him); if you have not found a fellowship in which to share, why not give us a try. You will be made most welcome.

 

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Numerous attempts have been made to chart the History of our church and as it spans over 350 years it will take some time to chronicle it here.

However, tradition and such records as are available, appear to indicate a probable founding date of 1662, when the Rev John Humphry was ejected from the Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Frome for dissent. However, there are indications that the Rev Mr Humphry may possibly have started building the congregation which developed to be Rook Lane Independent Meeting as much as 2 years earlier.

We will draw together the records we hold and attempt to build up a picture of the church over 5 centuries.

In the beginning………. 17th Century

John Humfry had been instituted as Vicar of St John the Baptist, Froome-Selwood, in the year 1649.

Born at St Albans, Herts in 1621, he was educated at Oxford, a graduate of Pembroke College (M.A. 1647). He was ordained by the Presbytery in 1649 and re-ordained later by a bishop.

According to the Parish Officers of St John the Baptist, Frome, he was replaced in 1660 by Dr Joseph Glanville. However, Congregationalism in England, 1662-1962, by Tudor, records that he was one of the 2000 deprived of their living by the grand ejectment of 1662.

Joseph James also records in his “A Short History of Rook Lane” that he “was ejected from the Parish Church of Frome by the Act of Uniformity 1662”.

On his ejectment, until the passing of the “Conventicle Act” in 1664, he and the other members of the congregation worshipped in a room in the neighbourhood of what we refer to as the old Chapel. When the Five Mile Act of 1665 came into force he was compelled to leave Frome. He settled in London and formed Duke’s Place (afterwards Petticoat Lane) Congregational Church. He continued his ministerial duties into his 99th year, falling asleep in 1719 and surviving all the other ejected ministers.

The Act which drove Humfry from Frome brought to the church Rev Richard Alleine M.A. (1611-1681). Alleine was born at Ditcheat, Somerset and like his predecessor, was educated at Oxford (St Alban’s Hall and New Inn Hall.) He was Rector of Batcombe, Somerset from 1641 to 1661. On coming to Frome he was received by Mr Robert Smith, who set apart a room for religious services.

18th Century

Dr Houston

Starve Acre

19th Century

Details to follow

20th Century

For many years, the Free Church Sunday Schools held an Annual Whit March which took place on Whit Monday. Assembling in the Victoria Park they marched behind their Banners to services at two Churches (Rook Lane & Wesley). After the Rook Lane Service, the children (under 7s) went to Wesley to join up with the older scholars and then all returned to their own Schools for the tradition Whit Buns.

Early in this Century, (1907) Rev Joseph James A.T.S. published “A Short History of Rook Lane” to celebrate the Bi-Centenary of the erection of the Chapel Building in 1707. This has been used as the base record for the history up to that time.

In 1962, the Tercentenary of the Church was due to be celebrated, culminating in the presentation of a pageant, written and produced by the then Sunday School Secretary, Grace M Windridge.

However, due to much illness at this time, the pageant was postponed and was eventually staged at the 170th Anniversary of the Sunday School, in 1965.

Back Row l to r Mrs HM White, Mrs Trowell, Rev GW Trowell, Grace Windridge (Sunday School Secretary) Mrs WE Hansford. 2nd Row left of pulpit Barry Parsons, Mrs Hayward, Mr Windridge right of pulpit Sharon Garland, Jill Griffin (later to become Rev Jill Warren of Wesley) Fred Pope.

Others include CV White MPS (Sunday School Superintendent – later Pastor CV White of Congregational Federation) Mrs Ruth Hewitt, Mrs Morey, Angela Morey, Mrs Pope, Mrs Gilham, Jane Edwards, Helen Vranch, Michael Parker, Patricia Parsons, Ann Griffin, Christopher Parsons, Malcolm Edwards, Nigel Edwards and others I cannot remember. (If you spot yourself and I have not named you, contact me to make a correction).

In 1966 many members of the church, with members of the sister Congregational Church in Whittox Lane (Zion) united to form a new church, Frome Congregational Church, which, in 1972 became Frome United Reformed Church.

However, several of the Rook Lane congregation, led by the Sunday School Superintendent (CV White MPS), decided that in conscience they were unable to agree to the Declaration for Transfer of membership. These few continued with the Sunday School separately, meeting each week in the old Bath Street building, while the new church met on alternate Sunday’s at Bath Street and the Whittox Lane premises. In 1968, on the Sunday after Pentecost, (when the Free Church Sunday Schools of the town had held their annual Whit Services at Wesley and Rook Lane as usual) the Sunday School met and found the locks on the building had been changed.

The Sunday School thereafter met at the Superintendent’s home and the home of another member who lived opposite Mr and Mrs White. At this time the Sunday School numbered approximately 60 children and young people and 8 or 9 teachers.

The next door property, 79 Weymouth Road, was later purchased by Mr White and placed at the use of Church and Sunday School.

Subsequently registered for marriages, the first Wedding took place on 10th April 1971. Others followed until the property had to be sold and the Church and Sunday School moved out, continuing to meet regularly at The Blue House, by kind permission of the Trustees.

21st Century – Whither now?

In 2016, we continue to meet regularly for All-age Sunday School all be it with much reduced numbers and ageing membership.

Our Current Mission?

1. to study our Bible in order to learn God’s will for us; Sunday by Sunday during our All-age meetings we are reading through the Bible and attempting to understand the message; we also undertake a monthly Bible Exploration under the guidance of Rev John Nockels (This is suspended during Lent, when we host a United Lent Study group for 6 or 7 weeks)

2. to help one another and others in need; Through the Rook Lane Sick Man’s Friend Society, a fund set up in the days of Rev John Sibree (see 18th Century), a Sick Visitor goes to see sick, elderly and bereaved members (and sick member of other fellowships when known) to take a small gift to let them know they are thought about, prayed for, and above all LOVED. We collect food for Fair Frome and its Foodbank on the first Sunday of each month and the monetary offerings that day are donated to the Nepal Education Fund of People Against Poverty.

3. to worship our God and to witness to those around us of God’s Love for All Mankind;

4. to share in this work with Christians of our own and other denominations.