Westward Ho! Baptist Church - Westward Ho!, Devon
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SMacB
N 51° 02.445 W 004° 14.203
30U E 413297 N 5655084
The new Baptist church on Nelson Drive, Westward Ho!, completed in 2011.
Waymark Code: WMMNP3
Location: South West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/15/2014
Views: 8
The rapid development of Westward Ho! "did not go unnoticed by Appledore Baptist who considered that a non conformist place of worship at Westward Ho! was necessary. A mission was opened in a cottage at the end of Westbourne Terrace(since washed away by the sea) thanks to Mr James Taylor.
In 1877 services were held at 6.30pm on a Sunday conducted by lay preachers from Appledore. It was so successful that they decided that a chapel was essential. a committee was formed a building fund opened and a piece of ground purchased on favourable terms(between£30 and £40) from James Taylor's son George, who in 1880 bought up all the shares in the Northam Hotel and Villas Company.
In 1894 only seven years after missionary work to Westward Ho! had started, a contract was accepted by an Appledore builder, Mr Tamlyn to build a chapel for an approxiamate cost of £250 exclusive of furniture.
On 15 April 1895 seven foundation stones were laid representing donations of £5. On Wednesday 6 August 1895 the chapel was dedicated.
The first service was held on 10 August 1895 attended by over 100 people.
Highlights of those early years was the annual Whit Monday Tea started in 1889 and held in the coffee room of the old Bath Hotel(now demolished) kindly lent by Mr George Taylor.
107 People attended the first tea and by 1893 the numbers had increased to 150.
The Bible Class and Sunday School started in 1897 and in 1902 there were eleven girls and seven boys between the ages of four and fourteen attending. During those early years there was only one service on a Sunday evening and a prayer meeting on Wednesday.
1907 in addition to evening service a morning service was commenced.
1901 the railway came to Westward Ho! and the first train to reach the village was greeted by a German band as it pulled into the station(situated what is now the Bucanneer Pub, and the ground behind the Putting Green.
The population of Westward Ho! according to the 1911 census had grown to 653 inhabitants which grew to 917 by 1913, however the village did not grow dramatically in size until after the Second World War.
On 26 February 1932 the Rev. J Shields was inducted as the first minister to Westward Ho! Baptist Church(the first non-conformist in Westward Ho!)Up until this time Westward Ho! had shared a minister with its mother church at Appledore."
The new building was completed in 2011.
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