Gloucestershire to lose part of its historical heritage as

The Baptist Chapel in Middleyard, King's Stanley, closes at the end of August

SADLY Gloucestershire is to lose another part of its important historical heritage.

The Baptist Chapel in Middleyard, King's Stanley, is to close at the end of August this year.

A small congregation and large maintenance costs for the building have led to this decision.

The chapel built in 1824 was once the centre for worshippers from around Stroud.

Many walking there three times on a Sunday from across the town and from the local villages.

The later addition of a schoolroom as part of the 19th century Sunday school movement marks the building as an important element in the social reform of that century when children had no other education.

The chapel itself with its old pump organ, raised double pulpit and balcony is a fine example of the hard won result of the financial sacrifices made by the non conformists to provide a home for those who for many years had been excluded from any substantial place of worship.

Many worked in the wool industry in King's Stanley and other mills or at home as weavers.

The building has been well maintained for many years and with the kitchen built with the bequest of a old church member, has seen many functions and has been providing a weekly tea and cakes, and a monthly soup meal for the locals.

The widening of doors and the provision of a disabled toilet have created a user friendly environment for the disabled.

In recent years in addition to its Sunday service and weddings and funerals, it has hosted a children's playgroup, weekly choir meetings, concerts and entertaining presentations.

The evening functions have usually been sold out.

It will be a sad loss for the expanding King's Stanley community with the many more houses that are being built being built.

There is the great potential for more involvement and as a meeting place for all ages.

Such facilities are unlikely to be replaced in the future.

Five years ago King's Stanley Baptist church was the subject of a BBC TV programme “Reverse Missionaries’ when the Reverend Franklin Small travelled from his church in Jamaica to preach and encourage the local residents to support the church.

This was a reversal of the time when the churches here sent missionaries all over the world to start churches which in many cases are still very active and well supported.