Religious non-conformity in Stowupland
Non- conformity was first recorded in 1611 with 17 recorded recussant. A charge of non-conformity could also be applied to Catholics.
Although we known that certain premises were described as being ‘set aside for their worship, even after a dedicated building had been built in Stowupland in the mid 19th century local people would still travel to Stowmarket for services as well as attending their own chapel. So it is safe to assume that duing the 17th and 18th century Stowupland residents would travel to Stowmarket .
‘After the 1662, congregations rejecting the church as established by Act of Parliament, gathered for worship illegally both in Stowmarket and neighbouring villages.
1670 -1689, John Meadows, an ejected minister preached to a gathered congregation in his own house’, on the site occupied by Stomarket URC today.
In 1718, part of the property formerly owned by John Meadows was purchased and a small meeting erected. Later the rest of John Meadows’ property and other ground was acquired and between 1805 and 1834 the Meeting House was enlarged.
In 1861 the existing Meeting House was demolished and a new church built that survived till it was destroyed by bombing in 1941. (Details and image from a leaflet found in the Rev Brame’s Document ‘As I Remember It‘.)
Between 1708 and 1835, 4 houses were set aside for worship by non-conformists. The 1716 Stowmarket Terrier gave the number of Stowupland inhabitants over the age of 16 as 276. Of these there was 1 Quaker, 1 Presbyterian and 5 Independents.
1708 – the first mention of a chapel in the parish of Stowupland. This was known as Harrold’s Cottage and was situated on Newton Road next to Monewdon House. With the 1936 Bouudary changes this is no longer part of Stowupland.
9th Dec 1708 – It was certified by John Elsegood of Bury St Edmunds, cooper, that at the dwelling house of James Harrold husbandman situated in Stowupland is set apart’ (Redstone: p6)
In the 1820’s we know a cottage along Main Road (now A1120) was being used as a chapel & school. An entry from Charles Freeman’ s diary, owner of Stowupland Hall;- “April 18, 1826, Kerry for thatching Meeting House in part 6 – O, Mr Prentice paid the rest”
In the early 19th century many Stowupland children were baptised in Stowmarket Independent Meeting House, this became the Congregational Church, other names were recorded in the Stowmarket Baptist Church Register.
In 1821, Nov 30th –‘ It was certified by Henry Fisher of Stowmarket that a dwelling house & out building situate in Stowupland are set apart etc’ {Redstone: p46}
1835 – A Cottage in Saxham Street that was owned by Robert Stegall and occupied by Thomas Pyman and Samuel Stebbings was reportedly used as a Chapel (Ena Carter places this as near tm40 and this maybe near todays Oak Tree Farm.)
3rd June, 1835 – ‘It was certified by John Burrows of Haughley, hawker, that a tenement belonging to Robert Steggles in the occupation of Samuel Stebbings is set apart etc.’ {Redstone: p64}.
15 June 1835 – ‘It was certified by Cornelius Elven of Bury St Edmunds, minister of the Gospel that a dwelling house in the occupation of Thomas Pyman & Samuel Stebbing situate in Stowupland is set apart etc.’ (Redstone: p65)
1839 there was a chapel in the Alley or Chapel Lane, which maybe associated with the history of the Congregational Church.
In 1841 till 1859 land on Thorney Green fronting onto Main Road still had a building called the ‘Old Chapel’ and a ‘Meeting house ‘still standing on land owned by Robert Burch
Sketch map taken from Crown farm Deeds on which Ena Carter has noted the location of the Dissenters dwelling place. The road going from top to bottom is what is now the A1120. The Green is off to the left and below 407 and 408.
Compiled from Ena Carter’s notes taken from ‘Protestant Dissenters in Suffolk’ by V.B. Redstone: 1912.
