Plymouth, Presbyterian Chapels

PLYMOUTH
DATA

The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ENGLAND

During the period known as the Commonwealth, 1643 until 1660, the established faith in England was Presbyterian. So strict was this faith that in 1659 one Mr John Wood was reprimanded for walking on the Hoe during sermon time. It is not commonly realised but as Charles Church was built during this period but not consecrated until afterwards, services held there were of the Presbyterian faith. As such it is the oldest nonconformist place of worship still surviving in the City.

At the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660 and the reintroduction of the Anglican Church, the Presbyterian congregation transferred to the 'Old Marshalls', the former Marshallsea, or prison, in Southside Street. Mr Nicholas Sherwill was their preacher. They remained there until the opening of the Batter Street Presbyterian Chapel in 1704/05.

The congregation at Batter Street became an Independent one after 1762 and Presbyterianism seems to have faded away as the Church of England once again took its hold on the nation.

However, it remained strong in Scotland and in the early years of the 19th century the attention of the Government was drawn to 'the privations of the Scottish soldiers and sailors laboured under as compared to their comrades in arms belonging to the English and Romish Churches.' But it was not until the autumn of 1857 that the Presbyterian Church of Ireland took upon itself to send a minister over to Devonport, where he formed a congregation at the Temperance Hall in Fore Street.

As the congregation was composed mainly of soldiers, sailors and servants of the Crown employed in the Royal Dockyard, it was considered important that a permanent place of worship be erected as close to the barracks and arsenals as possible. The Government were approached for a site but without success. They eventually found a piece of freehold ground at Eldad, between the Roman Catholic Cathedral and the Anglican Church of St Peter, for which they paid £600.

Upon that site the Presbyterians erected their first proper chapel. It was known as the "iron chapel" because the whole of its exterior was constructed of corrugated iron. The Chapel was opened for worship on Wednesday February 5th 1862.

Although it could accommodate between 600 and 700 people, it was soon found that it could not hold both the civilian and military worshippers at the same time so a special service was held in the mornings specifically for the military personnel so that more space was free later for civilian worshippers. The chaplain, the Reverend Joseph Wood, was evidently a very popular gentleman and the congregation continued to outgrow the building.

Shortly after this the Chapel was transferred to the Presbyterian Church of England.

With the iron chapel failing to meet the needs of an ever increasing congregation, the decision was taken to erect a larger, more impressive and more permanent place for worship. This time the Government were a bit more supportive and the War Office subscribed £500 and the Admiralty gave £400 towards the cost.

On Monday August 10th 1868 Captain Hutchinson, Royal Navy, laid the memorial stone. The new Chapel was opened and dedicated at 11.30am on Wednesday September 1st 1869.

Unfortunately the building caught fire in the early hours of Sunday December 10th 1882.

The Chapel was quickly rebuilt and re-dedicated on Sunday March 16th 1884. The Church was full for both the morning and evening dedication services, with the galleries being full of military personnel in the morning. The Band of the 74th Highland Light Infantry accompanied the choir and organ at the services.

Prior to the Second World War the congregation decided that a new church was required and a site was found at Hartley, in Torr Lane. The Wyndham Street Chapel closed in 1936 and the congregation moved to temporary premises next to the Mutley Constitutional Club on Mutley Plain.

The foundation stone for the new building was laid in September 1937 and on March 17th (St Patrick's Day) the following year it was dedicated to The Name of the Blessed Trinity.

It became the Trinity United Reformed Church in October 1972 following the amalgamation of the Presbyterian and Congregational movements.