link to homepage

Independents in Wing

A summary of the families, churches and records of the Independent and Congregational chapels

Crafton

The 1851 Ecclesiastical census indicates 40 individuals attended the Crafton Independent chapel for evening services.


Littleworth

Union Chapel - photo by Rob Farrow

The Congregational Union Chapel in Littleworth is first mentioned in the 1876 Harrods directory, however according to the 1899 Kellys directory it was in fact built in 1854, rebuilt in 1871, and held 140 people. This earlier date comes about because it was originally a Baptist chapel. It reformed as the Burcott Congregational church around 1871, spearheaded by the Rev George MOORE (Congregational minister of Wingrave) and William HELEY, and later became the Wing Union Chapel.

The first building committee, which would have overseen the work in 1871, was made of up J HELEY, T.S. HELEY and William HELEY all of Wing, and Mr JENNINGS, Mr SHARMAN and Mr TRUEMAN all of Leighton Buzzard.

The Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies holds a number of records for this chapel, including:
* Church book 1871 to 1913 including admissions and baptisms (NC 5/1)
* Notebook of ministers supplied 1873-1897 (NC 5/2)
* Notebook by Kate HELEY dated 1879-1890 "Scraps and Incidents and Notes of the Lord's Dealings" (NC 5/11)
* various other minute and account books for the 1870 to 1949 period

George TRUEMAN bequeathed £200 to this Chapel for investment under his will proved 21 October 1887. The funds were invested in consols in the names of Arthur Somes HELEY and three others (does anyone have a copy of George's will?)

Wing As It Was (vol 1) has a photo of the women of the congregation (there's almost 50 of them), taken in the 1880s.

By 1907, Congregational minister Rev. William HARRISON is listed as living at the Manse in Littleworth. Wing As It Was states there were 32 members of the chapel that year. However he's not listed in subsequent directories, nor is any replacement.

The building has monuments to the HELEY family and to George TRUEMAN.


Useful Links