Presbyterians, Donhead St. Mary

Peter Ince was the rector of Donhead St. Mary in 1646-1660. He was a puritan nominee put in place in St. Mary's Church after the Parliamentarians took power. After the Restoration the deposed Dr. Whitney regained St. Mary's. Ince was not prepared to cease Puritan ministry and lost his living. He continued to preach and for some time was either in gaol or in hiding. He finally took service as a shepherd with Mr. Grove of Ferne. The story goes that in 1662 Mr Grove sent for his parish minister to pray with his seriously ill wife. He was 'out with hounds'. He called his shepherd instead and was amazed by his eloquence. He then invited Ince to serve as chaplain and preach at a free church in Ferne House. Peter Ince died at Ferne House in 1683 and became better known as 'the praying shepherd'. In 1691 Mr Grove died and the congregation moved to a house in Donhead St. Mary (once the residence of Judge Jeffreys who hated nonconformists). It was the present Donhead House which was occupied by John Scammel, a yeoman. Chapel going continued there until the Bird Bush Chapel was built.

A certificate was granted in 1704 for the house of John Haskell, Presbyterian. At the same time a house in the occupation of John Hastings, was Presbyterian too. In 1738 the house of John King was registered with the Lush family (among others) and with the marks of John Gray and Richard Lass.