Fernhurst Providence Bible Christian chapel

Although in Sussex, Fernhurst was missioned from the north by preachers from the Farnham Mission. The chapel was later in the Liphook Circuit, with other chapels in Hampshire. The village used to be known as Farnhurst, and further confusion is caused by that village being in the dispersed parish of Woolavington.

We are fortunate to have an account of the original mission in A Jubilee Memorial of Incidents in the Rise and Progress of the Bible Christian Connexion.

” Wherever truth is introduced, it is generally found that its antagonist, error, is up and doing. The Bible Christian Missionaries brought truth into conflict with error in the village of Farnhurst, Sussex, about the year 1838. They had to contend against immorality and Antinomianism, and at one time both united to drive them from the village. the opposition was so great that the preaching was removed from house to house, and at times the preachers had the heavens for their sounding board; but out of weakness they were made strong. waxing valient in the conflict. A store-room was opened for divine services on Easter Sunday, 1845. This was the commencement of a new era in the history of the cause. A Sabbath School was commenced in the following January. then land was purchased for a chapel at a cost of £40; and the foundation stone was laid by Edwin Hills, Esq., the proprietor of the preaching room on the 4th of August. On Good Friday, 1846, the new chapel was opened; on which occasion the services were attended with a gracious influence; and a short while after, about twelve people experienced a death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness.”

The deed for the chapel is enrolled in the Close Rolls 1845,115.3.

On 30th March, 1851, James Enticknap, the Chapel steward, recorded that the chapel had been erected in 1845 and could seat 139. Twelve Sunday School scholars had been present in the morning; the afternoon congregation had been 79, with 42 scholars; and in the evening 63 had attended. Progress had clearly been made since 1845. Although the return has been indexed as being from Woolavington, the census of population reveals that James Enticknap was a blacksmith living at Holborn in Fernhurst.

The 1940 accommodation returns note that the chapel could seat 100.

The chapel closed in 1963, but the building is still standing.

Sources:

The National Archives. H.O.129/93.1.1

A Jubilee Memorial of Incidents in the Rise and Progress of the Bible Christian Connexion. Shebbear: published for the Bible Christian Book Committee by JamesThorne, 1865 p188-189

Statistical returns … as at July 1^st 1940. Manchester: Methodist Church, Department of Chapel Affairs, 1947