Coate Chapel, Bishops Cannings

The Devizes tobacco and snuff manufacturer, E.B. Anstie, was converted to the Gospel of The Brethren while on a visit to Jamaica; on his return to Wiltshire he started Gospel services in a cottage in Coate in 1841. In 1848 he built a substantial chapel that was also used as a day school for nearly all the children of Coate. When the National School was built in Coate, in 1876, Anstie closed the non-conformist school and the building became a chapel and Sunday School only. He appointed Thomas Smith of Potterne as preacher and paid his salary for many years. About half the villagers of Coate were regular attenders and around three quarters of the population attended the chapel in the late 19th century. The Sunday School had over 60 pupils. The chapel continued for much of the 20th century but closed in 1973.