The great Stone Laying Ceremony

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“The Great Stone Laying Ceremony” for the new Wesleyan Chapel and Schools took place on 12th June 1901. At 2.45 p.m. members of the existing church assembled in the existing chapel before starting out (through the rain) for the site of the new chapel at around 3 p.m. A big crowd had already gathered on the site, and a large platform had been erected to provide seating for those who had travelled from around the circuit to support the event through their presence and gifts. A brief service was led by Revs C. Streat, C. Angwin, E. F. Tonkin and C. Palmer, with an address by Rev. J. S. Simon of Norton House, Midsomer Norton.

The Stone laying ceremony then proceeded as Mrs T. F. C. May (of Bristol) introduced by Mr T. C. Gregory, declared the first stone well and truly laid in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost - she placed a cheque for £25 on the first stone. Other stones were laid by the following (money placed on the stones in brackets): Mrs Bird (£81 4s), Mrs J. F. Moss (£25), Mrs George Tucker (£3 for herself and a silver purse containing £30 from the wives of the Trustees of the new chapel) and Master B. Mattick (£5 1s). A collection was then taken in aid of the building fund, which realised the sum of £178 5s 11d. A tea was then provided in the school room of the old chapel.

In the evening there was a meeting presided over by Mr T. F. C. May of Bristol - at this meeting, those who laid stones were presented with gold medals with an engraving of the new chapel on one side, and the date and person’s name on the reverse.

The total raised during the day, from the stone laying, collections and promises was a staggering £408 1s, an incredible 8% of the final cost of the building.