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The covenants were adopted by the membership of the Great Presbyterian Meeting House, Hill Street, Poole and both arose from divisive disputes.
The first concerned church governance, the authority to appoint the minister, in particular. It was a key factor in a secession of members from St. James’ Church, resulting in the formation of the Hill Street meeting house.
The second arose from theological differences, which contributed to an unknown number of members leaving in 1739 and later the same issues resulted in a large number leaving to set up the Lagland Street Congregational Chapel, the predecessor of the Skinner Street Congregational Chapel (founded in 1760 and 1777 respectively). SSCC
Factfile
This letter reveals the acrimonious ending to Rev. Philipps’ ministry, which had spanned a total of 12 years of ministry, first in Hill Street and later in Lagland Street, Poole (1753 – 1765).
In the seventh year of his ministry (1760), he was ejected from the Great Presbyterian Meeting House, Hill Street, Poole, but he continued his ministry in the newly founded Congregational Chapel in Lagland Street, to which many members from Hill Street seceded with him.
Readers may be interested in the footnotes, which give more details about the circumstances surrounding the letter.
Factfile
Museum Ref No: Stickland collection Poole, Congregational ChurchCongregational Church. From the Stickland collection, Poole Museum.
Photograph
Museum Ref No: AH_Congregational_Church_BroadstonePostcard reads "Congregational Church, Broadstone"
Dated 1931
From the Andrew Hawkes collection.
Photograph
Museum Ref No: PLA 942.337History of the Town and County of Poole by John Sydenham, Poole, Sydenham, 1839 Pages 343-345
Book
This is an angry letter written by the minister of the Lag Lane Congregational Chapel, Poole.
Rev. Samuel Philipps, and his supporters had been expelled from the Great Presbyterian Meeting House, Hill Street, Poole in 1760 due to bitter theological differences about the Trinity. They founded a new chapel in Lag Lane the same year.
Some of those who left with Rev. Philipps were co-founders of the former Chapel, and included some of Poole's most wealthy and influential individuals, Martin Kemp (a merchant) being one such.
Yet divisions had arisen between Rev. Philipps and Mr. Kemp (and others) about five years later, which were similarly bitter (as the letter shows) and ended in the minister being dismissed. The footnotes in the transcription provide more historical detail and a short list of books for those interested in finding out more.
Factfile
Museum Ref No: LHC260336p11bMessrs William Grant and Bernard Hart appearing in 'Phyllis, the Farnmer's Daughter' at Skinner Street Congregational Church, presented by the Church Choir. From the Poole and Parkstone Standard,26th March 1936
Newspaper
The images are of a 7-page leaflet, commemorating the first centenary of the Skinner Street Congregationalist Church.
Martin Kemp-Welch's name appears at the end of the leaflet, indicating that he may have been the author. PRC. SSCC
Document
The images are of a 4-page leaflet containing a concise history of the Skinner Street United Reformed Church, Poole (formerly, the Skinner Street Congregational Church).
It was originally written in 1987 by Rev. W. A. Kerr and later revised and augmented by Mr. R. E. Harding, in 1996.
PRS. SSCC
Document
The images are a selection of the Skinner Street Congregational Church 1910 Manual (or 'annual report'). To view all the images of the 20-page leaflet, call into the Local History Centre, Poole Museum.
It contains lists of the church's services, activities and societies, its church officers and members and accounts of various funds associated with the church. It is a window into the religious and wider social history of a well attended and active independent church, just before the First World War. PRS. SSCC
Document