Abingdon Independents

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The Independent dissenters would make their way in ones or twos to a shady tree lined place beside the River Thames, or a clearing in Tubney Woods. Their leader, Dr Langley, would be the last to join, and announce the opening hymn.

They claimed to gather under a higher law than the Act of Uniformity – that required them to go to the established church. The Independents felt no need of polished stones or painted glass. They said, ‘Light shines best in hearts made right with God.’ 

The Toleration Act of 1689 gave them license to meet at Dr Langley’s home in Tubney, and then a Meeting House was built and opened beside the Square in Abingdon – about the same time the Baptists and Quakers got their own place. It opened in the year 1700.

Men stood one side of a crowded gallery, women the other, with families in pews below.

An old ship’s mast held the roof. Some would claim the Pilgrim Fathers were powered through storms by that ship’s mast – chancing all on God. More probably,  the mast came from a North Sea wreck that once carried a Minister of the church.

After a long week of hard work and a long walk to church, some villagers, in long smock coats, chose to stand – lest drowsiness rob them of a crumb of the truth they lived their lives by. Fisher, a farm-labourer; and aged Mr Doe would claim, ‘so long as legs can carry us, we will be here for the worship’.

The meeting house was enlarged with a classic front, and the older building became the school room. The celebrated preacher Charles Spurgeon preached to rapt crowds that day, and the ticket price helped clear the building debt. It was a day of unity. The Mayor and Rector declared that all were now working in the same faith.

The Independents became the Congregationalists and then joined with Presbyterians to become the United Reformed Church (URC). The Abingdon URC then joined with Trinity Methodists and left their old building.

Their old meeting house is now the Ask Restaurant. Some still claim that the ship’s mast could be from the Mayflower.

Summary written after reading Two centuries young : Abingdon Congregational Church 1700-1900 by Dr John Stevens. Phrases in quotes are directly taken from the book.

Abingdon 100 years ago – March 1921

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5th March 1921

By the will of the late Mr. W. J Hedges, solicitor, Abingdon, a bequest of two landscape paintings by B.W. Leader, R.A., has been made to Abingdon Corporation and accepted.

The Abingdon Town Council have appointed Alderman J.T. Morland as representative of the boroughs of Abingdon and Wallingford to the Thames Conservancy, in place of Mr Hedges of Wallingford.

At the Abingdon Borough Police Court, Harold Hatherall, 22, alias Brown, being described as a commercial traveler, was charged with embezzling various sums of money, received by him on account of his employer, William Barnett, sweet manufacturer, Ock Street, Abingdon. Prisoner pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months hard labour.

12th March 1921

At the Abingdon Baptist Chapel on Wednesday last the Rev. J. B. Morris gave appreciative lecture on Women hymn writers and their hymns. Councillor W. B. Langford presided and there was a good attendance. The choir sang several of the hymns.

At the Abingdon Congregational Church last Wednesday evening a social gathering took place. The occasion was taken of presenting Mr and Mrs Wake, who had been the caretakers of the Chapel for 21 years, with a token of appreciation of their work. The presents took the form of a pipe and pouch for Mr Wake and a handsome teapot for Mrs Wake. Refreshments were served and a capital programme of music was rendered.

On Wednesday evening, the 9th inst., at the Abingdon Exchange, a large gathering convened by the Abingdon Liberal Association for the purpose of forming a combined Liberal Association for the North Berks polling district. Rules were submitted, and the officers and committee appointed. Mr. E. A. Leasing, Kingford House, gave an address on ‘Russia under Bolshevik Rule,’ illustrated with lantern slides from snapshots taken by him. Following the short lecture, refreshments were served, and a humorous entertainment given by Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, of Oxford. The meeting concluded with a dance, the music being supplied by the excellent, Abingdon Pavlova Orchestra. The arrangements were under the management of Mr. William Benthall, Liberal Agent for the Division.

At the cattle market last week there was a fair supply of stock. The top price for fat beasts was £68 10s, and that for sheep £7 12s.

At the annual meeting of the Cottage Hospital, last week, the report for the past year, showed total receipts from all sources of £1,159 2d, as against £775 last year. There was, however, a deficit of £26, but at the meeting it was announced that Mrs Dockar Drysdale, of Wick Hall, Radley, had sent a cheque to pay off this deficit. Out-patients during the past year numbered 2,056, patients admitted 85, accidents 19, anaesthetic given in 8 cases, and 538 visits paid by the District Nurse. Votes of thanks to the various donors and helpers of the hospital were passed and the officers re-elected for the ensuing year.

19th March 1921

In aid of the Radcliffe Infirmary the Abingdon North End Slate Club, Vineyard, Abingdon, made a collection amongst the members, and have sent the sum of £3 14s. as a donation to the institution. A scheme of systematic contributions by the members has been undertaken and is now being formulated throughout the town. (A Slate Club is a group of people who saved money in a common fund for Christmas.)

The appointment of Sir Mortimer Singer, of Milton Hill, as High Sheriff for the County of Berks, is popular amongst Abingdon townspeople, Sir Mortimer Singer being a considerable supporter of many local objects.

The funeral took place in Abingdon Cemetery on Thursday afternoon. the 10th inst., of Mr. Charles Gillett. aged 86 years. He retired from farming at Lower Hadden, near Bampton, about 15 years ago, afterwards taking up his residence at Abingdon. He was a considerable breeder and exhibitor of Cotswold sheep, and afterwards of Oxford Down sheep.

The Abingdon Choral Society on Wednesday, at the Corn Exchange, gave a sacred, concert, consisting of two cantatas ‘Daughter of Jairus,’ and Mendelssohn’s 42nd Psalm, under the able conductorship of Mr. H. Sheldon Peach. There was a large and appreciative audience. The proceeds were in aid of the Radcliffe Infirmary and Abingdon Cottage Hospital.

The terminal athletic sports took place on the school grounds, Park Road, on Saturday afternoon. There was a fair attendance of spectators. In the open long jump for the challenge cup and prizes there were six entries, N. O. Carr winning with 17ft 7½ins. Then. N. A. Carr won the high jump, 5ft. 2ins. and C. Ellis, for under 16s, 4ft. I. Williams was successful in the quarter-mile (open); S. L. Buckle, throwing cricket ball; N. O. Carr, 100 yards open; R. Waterhouse (100yds), half-mile handicap; and N. O. Carr, putting the weight. The prizes were presented at the close by Mrs. Frank Morland.

26th March 1921

The Board of Guardians of the Abingdon Union have made a rate of 6½d. in the pound, this a penny less than in the same period of last year. The remainder of the Oxford inmates in the institution were taken back to Oxford on Wednesday. There were twenty-one children chargeable to the Abingdon Union in the Cowley Poor Law School and a committee is considering the possibility of obtaining a house for their accommodation.

At the County Bench on Monday last Walter Candy, farmer, Blagrove Farm, Foxcombe Hill, Sunningwell, was fined £5 for selling milk from a cart on February 24th, at Sunningwell, adulterated with 14 per cent, of water.

A series of monthly united Sunday evening services are being held in the Abingdon Corn Exchange, the first speaker being the Vicar of Abingdon, and the second the Rev. C. H. Gill, Congregational minister. The third will be the Rev. Morris, Baptist minister (April 10).

The body of a newly-born infant was found floating on the river between Culham and Abingdon by Mr. H. Botterell, boat builder, Abingdon, whilst returning from Culham. It was a fully developed female child and had apparently been in the water several days. An inquest was to be held at Cottage Hospital on Thursday in last week but the doctor who examined the body was of the opinion the child had not had a separate existence, and consequently an inquest was not held.

The Abingdon branch of the Comrades of the War held a whist at their club rooms in Ock Street, on Thursday evening. the 17th inst. The prizes were given by the tradesmen of the town. Refreshments were served during the interval.

Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive. Pictures from Abingdon Town Council, newspaper adverts from the Gazette including the picture from an advert for Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills, picture of Cowley workhouse men from the Oxford Illustrated Journal.

Vale of White Horse District Lottery Announced

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The Vale of White Horse District Council has announced a new community lottery, with weekly tickets costing £1.

From each £1 ticket, the news release says, 60p will go towards the player’s chosen local good cause. 20p of the remaining money goes into the central community fund (which the council will distribute to good causes), 17p towards the administration of the lottery, and 3p on VAT. The top prize of £25,000 will go to anybody matching all six numbers. The other prizes are £2,000, £250, £25 or three free tickets.

In a few weeks time the council will invite community groups and charities to get involved. Cllr Margaret Crick, Chair of Vale of White Horse District Council said: ‘It’s been a tough year for many charities and community groups, and so we’re pleased to do what we can to give them a bit of a boost. This is a great way for our residents to give to their very local causes that are important to them and with a chance to win themselves.’

His Dark Materials to Peter Rabbit

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Abingdon Concert Band has made a few virtual videos over the last year during the pandemic. The individual players record themselves, and then Neil Brownless (Musical Director of Abingdon Concert Band), puts it altogether into one video. The latest video is the theme from the TV series His Dark Materials from the books by Philip Pullman, and has some special effects. Many of the band enjoy this series and so were glad to have a special arrangement of the theme tune.

Such projects give musicians a reason to keep practicing through the Covid-19 pandemic.

The books of The Dark Materials are not currently on display in the Abingdon’s Independent bookshop windows. Looking at their shop windows today I can see that children’s books are the main focus at Mostly Books.

The Book Store has Peter Rabbit, some jigsaws, and a mix of books. Both shops have click and collect services and, according to the government roadmap out of lockdown, we should be able to go inside on or after 12th April.