In 1768, the first known
Baptist dissenter in Wolvey
opened his house for
religious worship. The
village grocer, George
Toone, had brought the
Baptist faith to this small
Warwickshire village. He
had been "influenced by
some words at Kegworth"
in 1760 and joined the New
'Connexion'
Baptist Church in the neighboring town
of Hinckley. As such, Wolvey was, and continued to be, a subsidiary of the
Hinckley church until 1815, when Wolvey took the step
to branch out on its own.
Toone opened his home to other villagers for Baptist worship with the aid of
his two friends,
John and Richard Shipman, The membership gradually increased, until in 1789
it was necessary
for a meeting house to be built. The land cost 57
pounds and 15 shillings and was bought by Toone
and Samuel Walker from a man named "cooper".
The chapel has adapted through the years. A
rebuild of the original structure in 1803, schoolrooms added to support the
younger generations, the addition of a Baptistery to move towards
complete independence, and the creation of galleries to cope with the ever
increasing
congregation. |
|
1760
George Toone
begins
attending
Hinckley Baptist Church
1768 George Toone opens his house
to villagers for Baptist worship
1789
Original Meeting House built
1803
Present day Meeting House
built
1815
Chapel becomes independent and a Baptistery built
1818
School rooms
and a vestry built
1818,
1829, & 1913 New pews and
seating bought
1834 Internal gallery constructed
1857
School rooms enlarged
1865 Communion table purchased
1914 Pyramid roves added to porches
1925 Pipe organ
purchased
1980rs WC built
1990s
Windows
replaced
2009
Organ Refurbished
2011 Schoolrooms
Refurbished |
