Quakers in Fovant
There was an active group of Quakers in Fovant from c.1650-1750. They met to worship in each other's homes. They believed in simple, silent worship, with no priest, and refused to go to church or pay tithes. For this, they were often fined, flogged or imprisoned. Quakers were also refused burial in the churchyard; two were interred in the Pound.
Fovant's Quakers were quietly determined. At the Quarter Sessions in 1702 three houses were granted licences for worship. In 1705 a Quaker left some land in her will to be used as a burial ground. However, when The Poplar Inn was demolished and the garden excavated, no burials were found.
In 1783 the Bishop's Visitation Records reported that 'There are no Presbyterians, Anabaptists or Quakers in the Parish, and the Parishioners are decently regular'.
Fovant's Quakers were quietly determined. At the Quarter Sessions in 1702 three houses were granted licences for worship. In 1705 a Quaker left some land in her will to be used as a burial ground. However, when The Poplar Inn was demolished and the garden excavated, no burials were found.
In 1783 the Bishop's Visitation Records reported that 'There are no Presbyterians, Anabaptists or Quakers in the Parish, and the Parishioners are decently regular'.