(An article written for ‘Cumnor in Victorian Times’, CHS 1995)

In early Victorian times the religious practices of the parish began to reflect more clearly the social divisions and conflicting values within the community. In 1851 a religious census showed that some 200 people attended Anglican matins and evensong in the parish church. Traditional Anglicans, challenged by reformers within the Church, now saw a growing number of non-conformists meeting in the village, closely associated with the Temperance Movement. Non- conformity had not hitherto been a significant influence in Cumnor.

The building acquired by the non-conformists was a small barn, some say cart shed, on a farmstead down leys Road. It was on the site of Ron Webb's bungalow. Services were conducted by a visiting pastor from longworth.

The building was formally registered as a chapel on 12th March, 1850. The following day there was a disturbance. Joseph lambourne, James lambourne, Edward Adams, Charles Stone, Robert Cudd and William Puffett 'maliciously and contemptuously disturbed a congregation". These young men, local apart probably from Cudd and Puffett, 'began fiddling, dancing and shouting and by so doing made so great a noise as to entirely stop the service.' Described as labourers, the young men were reported and brought before Abingdon Magistrates but the minister, Mr Henry Smith, showed Christian compassion by deciding not to press charges 'as the penalties were so severe'. The culprits were dismissed with a severe warning.

A prominent chapel-goer was Frederick May, who moved to the tenancy of Bradley Farm from the West Country in the 1880s. A Congregationalist, he soon became involved in the work of the chapel and was Treasurer for 55 years. His daughter Dorothy later became Secretary.

By 1890 however the converted premises, used on a 'weekly and uncertain tenancy', had become decayed and insanitary and were causing much concern to the leaders of the Congregational Church in George Street, Oxford (where the large cinema now stands). Its minister issued a circular to the other churches appealing for money towards the cost of providing a new chapel for Cumnor. The total cost of the land, building and incidental expenses was put at £700. The circular pointed out that 'the congregation of Cumnor can do but little seeing its members are for the most part agricultural labourers whose income scarcely suffices to provide the bare necessities of life.' And at the end of the Appeal the following testimony from the County Association stated: 'The agricultural labourers and others constituting the Cumnor congregation have long been known by us as a devoted band of men. Strangers visiting the place have testified to the earnest and refreshing nature of their meetings for worship. Their enthusiasm in the work of securing a new chapel is beyond praise and the practical sympathy of the Oxford Churches has our best thanks. The congregation, out of their poverty have already contributed £16 by weekly payment of one

The Oxford Journal recorded in April 1893 a Temperance Concert at the old Mission Chapel in Leys Road, with a collection to augment the building fund for the new chapel being planned. There were recitations and addresses; the chapel choir's items included 'The Fireman's Wedding' and 'The Folly of Drinking'. Miss Campion was warmly applauded for her solos, including 'Oh touch those chords again'. The Oxford Journal also reported alternative events in the village: Smoking Concerts were held at the 'Vine' in Abingdon Road and it is clear from the number of toasts and the general jollity that a considerable amount of alcohol was consumed. The church also put on occasional concerts. One cannot say whether villagers felt a loyalty to more than one kind of event.

On 30th November 1893 an Indenture was drawn up to record the purchase of a piece of land 'containing one rood statute measure or thereabouts' for the sum of £100. The purchasers on behalf of the George Street Congregational Church were John Thornton (grandfather of the last of the Thornton booksellers) and Thomas Kingerlee (of the well-known firm of builders).

The vendor was the Rt. Hon. Montagu Arthur, Earl of Abingdon, together with eleven other gentlemen who were probably the Earl's creditors.

A year and a half passed before the foundation stone was laid, on Whit Monday, 3rd June, 1895, and it was expected that the chapel would be completed by the middle of September. At a church meeting at the George Street church on 30th October of that year Cumnor was officially received as a branch church of George Street.

Eighteen months later an indenture, dated 15th April, 1897, records the formation of the Chapel Trust and of the 17 trustees, the following 5 were local:

Charles Shaw of Botley, builder's foreman

William Dewe of Longworth, farmer

Frederick May of Bradley Farm, Cumnor, farmer

Thomas Blackwell of Cumnor, labourer

John Haynes junr of Cumnor, labourer

The Trust stated that the chapel was to be used according to the principles and usages of the Protestant Dissenters of the Congregational Denomination commonly called Independents, being Paedobaptists.