Non-conformists, Berwick Bassett

No non-conformist chapels have been erected in Berwick Bassett, although there is evidence of Presbyterian, Independent, Baptist and Primitive Methodist worship taking place in the area.

The first registration of a meeting house took place on 31 July 1689, when a dwelling house in the parish, together with two others in Brinkworth and Lyneham were licensed for Presbyterian and Independent worship.

In 1749, Caleb Baily, lord of the manor of Berwick Bassett, made a bequest for the assistance of persons “who shall preach or study to be fit to preach to congregations of the Presbyterian, Baptist or Independent denominations”.

Independent worship was also licensed on 30 December 1819, one of the applicants being William Cornwall of Avebury, a Protestant dissenting minister. The location registered was a room on the ground floor of a house belonging to John Nalder (a successor to Caleb Baily as lord of Berwick Bassett manor) and occupied by William Hacker, a labourer.

A dwelling house in the possession of Stephen Coleman was licensed for Primitive Methodist worship on 22 April 1834.

A further meeting house was registered on 12 December 1848, although the religious persuasion of the worshippers was not noted.

By 1864 there were ten dissenters recorded in the Diocesan visitation records as being present in the parish.