Tercentenary of Lavington Congregational Church

The church has decided to publish a souvenir booklet to celebrate the three hundredth anniversary of its establishment.

The Rev. William Bartlett took possession of the living of Bideford in 1648 but withdrew from the established church and formed a church ‘on the strictest plan of Independency’. He was joined by his son, the Rev. John Bartlett and these two ministers conducted services in various private houses in and around Bideford. In addition, it appears from family traditions that meetings were sometimes held at Ford Wood at night, and at Grange, both near Bideford.

A Dissenting Chapel was built in the town in 1694, known as the ‘Little Meeting’ probably behind the High Street. The ‘Great Meeting’ was built on the site of the present church in Bridgeland Street in 1760. At that time the Pastor was the Rev. Samuel Lavington who was the Minister of the church for 54 years and whose work was commemorated when the present church was opened in 1869 and named Lavington.

Gazette article 22 June 1948