Baptist Church near Rowberrow published by Pat Hase on Wed, 17/11/2021 - 23:20
I have had a query which asked if someone was a Baptist and lived in Rowberrow in the early 19th century - where was the nearest Baptist Church? Could it have been Cheddar, Burnham, Weston or somewhere else? I believe the Lynch Chapel in Winscombe may have originally been Baptist - can anyone confirm this?
There was a Baptist chapel at Rowberrow from 1814. William Selway was the minister and Eli Stock was deacon/trustee - Reports from Commissioners. There was also a Baptist Sunday school at the School House, School Lane, Rowberrow - see Parliamentary papers, Volume 69, p. 388-I, Shipham and Rowberrow Female Club and this report in p. 8, Col. 4, Bristol Mercury, 3 September 1842. There was also a Methodist chapel next to the School House - I am guessing this might have been Baptist at some earlier stage. So, I think the chapel was at School Lane but now demolished (the school room might survive as a private house but I am not sure). I might take a walk around there at the weekend to see (it has a great pub!)
I just read my copy of the "The Heart of Mendip" by F. A. Knight and he has this to say on page 174 (Rowberrow chapter):
"The village of Rowberrow, which is now so scattered, was, in its more prosperous mining days, not only more populous but more connected. Even during the last half-century many cottages have been demolished and the size and character of the long-disused school building, built, as may be seen from the tablet on its front, in 1855, and now converted into a dwelling-house, and the ruins of a Baptist Chapel and a Baptist School in the same lane, afford further evidence of the decay of the population."
So, unfortunately, the Baptist chapel and school in School Lane are long gone.
Thank you very much for your findings about the Rowberrow Baptists. I have forwarded your posts to the person enquiring who has been researching this part of his family for several years.
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