A bit of history:

SAYM cover

From one of her gardening clients, Heather recently came into possession of the souvenir booklet of the Eversley Methodist Church’s Jubilee Celebrations (1878 to 1928). The celebrations took place on Sunday, July 29th and Wednesday, August 1st, 1928.

In that time, the Eversley church appears to have been a part of the Sandhurst Circuit whose superintendent was based in Sandhurst Methodist on Scotland Hill. The following extract from the souvenir booklet’s first chapter may therefore be of interest to our members as it covers the founding of the first Methodist Chapel in Sandhurst, and a little of the preceding history back to Charles Wesley.

Douglas and Heather Brown

SAYM 1

“The Year of the Jubilee has Come.”

EVERSLEY,

OF THE

SANDHURST WESLEYAN CIRCUIT,

BY V. MELLON.

CHAPTER I.

THE STORY OF YESTERDAY.

How can one write the Methodist history of Eversley except as a sequel to the story of the rise of Methodism in the Sandhurst Circuit as a whole or further that of the Aldershot Circuit from whence we originally sprang?

In the minutes of this last-named circuit for December 29th, 1864, under the superintendence of Dr. W. H. Rule, who had primary charge of the military work at Aldershot, mention is made of a preaching place at Trunk Farm, Hawley. This appears to be the first incursion of our energetic neighbours within our borders.

The Rev. R. E. Brown sends me the following :-   “I came across the following in John Wesley’s Journal, which may be of interest. It is the only record of his having passed near Eversley.

1751-

Saturday, October 19th.

We rode leisurely on to Basingstoke and came, about two hours after sunset, to Bramsel.

Sunday, October 20th.

Farmer N——-, who had begged me to come that way upon the minister’s offering me the use of his Church, informing me that his mind was changed, I rode over to Reading, preached at one and five; and on Monday, 21st, rode forward to London.”

Bramsel is undoubtedly Bramshill. As Bramshill is in the Eversley Parish, it was in all probability Eversley Parish Church which was finally closed against the founder of Methodism.

At the same meeting, however, is a more significant entry,

“This meeting thankfully receives the intelligence that Robt. Gibson, Esq, of Sandhurst Lodge has offered the gift of a piece of ground in freehold, for the erection of a Church in Sandhurst, and that measures are already taken for the assemblage of a congregation in that neighbourhood, and unanimously recommends the proposal to erect a Wesleyan place of worship at Sandhurst.”

Thus Sandhurst became a part of the Aldershot Circuit, and

“on Sunday, January 1st, 1865, the first Wesleyan congregation was assembled at Sandhurst, and now fills a barn which has been lent for its temporary accommodation. A class is formed of twelve members, and two on trial, and a good prospect of increase. It will be necessary to erect a shed to receive the congregation until a Church can be built. Money will be collected for a shed, and as much as practicable towards the new building, but, as yet, very much cannot be expected.”

Father Cox.

It was in this year that the name of David Cox “farmer of Sandhurst” appears.   Mr. Cox -or Father Cox- as he was affectionately known for many years – took a leading part, notwithstanding determined opposition from the rector of the parish, in consolidating the work at Sandhurst, where his grandson, Mr. Josiah Cox, maintains the high tradition of service.

Other Worthies.

One by one, the names of other devoted workers appear, most of them employed on the building of Broadmoor Asylum. Deeply earnest men from the west country, warm-hearted, and fearless, they unceasingly gave of their scanty leisure and scantier purses. Mr. Jarvis, The Clerk of the Works, Messrs. Keith, Nash, Fry, Spear, Osbaldstone, Lyford, Franklin Johnson and Aland are particularly worthy of mention.

On September 20th, 1866, 33 members with £100 decided to build the first brick chapel of the Circuit.

The First Church.

The stone-laying took place in June, 1867. It was a great day.   Sandhurst had never known the like. A procession, including many from Aldershot and Reading, headed by an amateur band, paraded the village.

Banners with such mottoes as “This is the Lord’s doing : it is marvellous in our eyes”, “The friends of all, the enemies of none”, were raised aloft.

The service was conducted by the Rev. J. Webster, Rev. E. H. Tindall of Aldershot, and Rev. F. Smith of Guildford.

W. Pocock, Esq., laid the stone and on it placed £20. Then followed a stream of gift bringers, and the day’s offerings reached £75. Promises of help, in cash and labour, were made, and a further promise of £75, when the roof was on.

The building of the Sandhurst Chapel was indeed a glorious episode and might well be told at length, but space forbids.

The first quarterly meeting held at Sandhurst was on September 25th, 1867, the Rev. Joseph Webster presiding.