Helions Bumpstead Gospel Hall

History of Helions Bumpstead Gospel Hall

A report for the Parish of Helions Bumpstead in 1841 showed the number of families in the village to be 184, and the number attending church 180. This was the only place of worship in the village at that time.

But that same year several small groups of people in England and Dublin, concerned about what appeared to them to be a lack of vitality in the established church and moved with a desire for the simplicity which existed in the early church, began to meet together for services.

The first group in East Anglia met at Eggshell Lane, Birdbrook. Gabriel French, Deborah Jackson and John Wright were the original members. Later they moved their meeting place to Steeple Bumpstead and many more people joined them there, including many from the surrounding villages.

A week long mission was held in the card shed of the Village Store at Helions Bumpstead and many converts used to walk to Steeple Bumpstead for the Services on Sundays and carried food for their midday meal.

The Gospel Hall at Helions Bumpstead (called at first the Plymouth Brethren) was built in 1886 and held 100. It was built by a Bill Rewse, a son of Thomas Rewse who lived in the house on the corner opposite the Stores, once called Avalon. This was for many years the home of Mr January. Bill Rewse was responsible for building the newer part of the house, made of brick.

Ever since its formation the Gospel Hall has been regularly attended by a band of devoted people for the worship and as late as the middle 1950's there were great-great grandchildren attending of the first John Wright who started it all.