Swindon; Rodbourne Cheney Primitive Methodist chapel
Cheney Manor Road, Swindon SN2 3PE
The Souvenir Official handbook of the Brinkworth and Swindon District Synod, held in Swindon from April 28th to May 3rd 1910 to celebrate the Connexion Centenary gives the following information about the Rodbourne Cheney society:
“Rodbourne Cheney was missioned by camp meetings in July 1891 and August 5th 1894 after which services were held on Sunday evenings at the house of Mrs Matthews.
In June 1894, Mr Levi Lapper Morse gave a piece of land for a church. The friends set to work and by Sunday December 2nd the church now used for a school was opened, the total cost of which was £131. A society was formed of 6 members, the membership today is 46. There are 14 Sunday School teachers and 117 scholars. The present church, seating 230 people, was built in 1906 at a cost of £693, the present debt is £365.”
The chapel was built by Mr AJ Colborne.
The Souvenir Handbook for the 1932 Brinkworth and District Synod, held in Regent Street chapel, Swindon says:
“Open air work in which Mr. A. T. Orchard took a leading part, and Sunday Evening Meetings in the house of Mrs. G. H. Matthews, preceded the building of the first chapel here for which Mr. L. L. Morse gave the land. The building, now used as a Schoolroom, was opened in 1894, the Rev. W. M. Smith (Presbyterian) being the preacher. A society of 6 members was formed, the number now being 52. The present church seating 230 was built in 1906 at a cost of £693. Themission services of 1905 made a deep and lasting impression on the neighbourhood. The late Mr. A. Hobbs was greatly respected for his sterling character and good work. A men’s fellowship meets with encouraging success.”
St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Moredon Road was formed in 1962 following the amalgamation of the churches in Rodbourne Cheney, Moredon and Haydon Wick, with a vision of providing a closer link to a growing neighbourhood. The PM chapel in Cheney Manor Road was taken over by the Baptists. The inscribed stone on the front of the chapel in Cheney Manor Road was then amended to read ‘Rodbourne Baptist Church 1906’.
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Unfortunately the stone inscription on the chapel front was never changed, but a wooden banner cleverly constructed by Mr Glyn Lander with the words in relief was placed over the original stonework. This recently (2018) became partially detached during a snowstorm and the wall now proclaims to the world that the chapel is a Primitive Baptist Church! This will be no doubt be corrected in due course.
Howdill and Howdill were the architects of the chapel in 1906
There is a Sheild over the front door of the Church, does anyone know what this represents?
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