"Journeying together to share our Christian faith"
The area known as Lowden (LOLLEDON - LOLLA'S HILL) was formerly a suburb of Chippenham including parts of the Manors of Rowden, Lowden and Sheldon. It was completely detached from Chippenham and consisted in the main of the lane called Lowden and by the end of the last century some houses in Sheldon Road, Palmer Street and Parliament Street. There were three public houses, "The Plough" in Lowden (now demolished) 'The Rowden Arms' (now replaced by a modern building near the original site) and 'The New Inn' (now known as 'The Pheasant'). There was also a Methodist Chapel in 1855 (now a garage) [the garage has since become an electrical outlet], which was replaced by a new Church in Sheldon Road in 1901. I understand this was used as a day school for a time for children up to ten years who paid two-pence a week.
The old Methodist Church was acquired in 1905 for the sum of £40 and used for some time as a Reading Room for the young men of the area. There was also a Poor Law Institution commonly called the 'Workhouse', which is now converted into St Andrew's Hospital. For some years prior to 1885, the Vicar of Chippenham (Canon Rich) had tried to provide a place of worship for this isolated community. Eventually his efforts bore fruit and a piece of land was purchased in Lowden for £160.
As Sheldon Road and Parliament Street were also isolated, the new Church was intended to serve the area covered by these three roads, all of which lay in the Parish of Chippenham. The new Church was designed by Mr Graham Awdry (a connection of the Legal firm of Messrs Wood and Awdry) and built by Messrs Light and Smith at a cost of £1095 (including heating). In passing I would mention that the bricks came from a large brickyard, which lay between Lowden Hill, Audley Road, the Railway and Lowden Avenue, as did much of the local building at the end of the last and beginning of the present centuries.
The Church was dedicated on the 19th October 1886 by the Archdeacon of Bristol (Canon Norris). The Incumbent was Canon Rich and until 1954 was a Daughter Church of St Andrew's under the control of the Vicar and Parish Council of that Church. An Annual Meeting of the Congregation was held and Sydesmen were appointed to represent the Vicar and the Congregation of St. Peter's. These Sydesmen were approved by the St Andrew's PCC and sat on that body. Originally two were appointed but it appears that by 1916 the number was three increasing to five by 1932 and twelve by 1955.
Due, no doubt, to its isolation and the character of it's people it appears to have been an independent community as witnessed by the election of a Mayor and Council (unofficial), which met at the Plough Inn. Its regalia is now in the Yelde Hall Museum [now the Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre in the Market Place]. The dwellings were very scattered, but after the first World War the Town Council built the Sheldon Road and Palmer Street Estate, followed by Ladyfield Road, Derriads Green and Hungerdown Lane area, which together with individual houses and privately built estates, filled in the blank spaces.
By now access: to the Town had been improved as Audley Road had been made up from a cart track, and also the provision of other roads, i.e. Woodlands Road, Orchard Road, etc. so that by 1954 the area was much more compact and it's population greatly increased, but the Church lay on the extreme East Boundary and whilst plans for a new Church more centrally situated had been made early in the present century, it was not until 1955 that concrete proposals were made for a new Church and Parish. The Church was served by the Vicar and Assistant Curates of St Andrew's. Many names appear in the Church Registers but it seems that by 1904/5 full time Curates lived in Church House in Sheldon Road
[now a private house on the corner with Stonelea Close} .The Minutes of the old Church make very interesting reading. At the Easter Meeting 1913 it was reported that Electricity (installed in 1911) cost £3.16.11. as compared with an average for Oil Lighting of £50.0. In 1933 receipts were £143.2.2 and expenses £131.17.2. By 1934 the chairs were falling apart from the action of Woodworm and 200 new ones were purchased for £50. To fix them in rows by using deal strips cost £2.6.6 complete. Cassocks and surplices were presented in 1889.The Screen was dedicated in 1911 and an oak Lectern and Pulpit was carved and given by Miss F. Rooke of The Ivy and Mrs. Prince. Eucharistic Vestments were first used in 1931.
The old Minute Books and Accounts show the same concern we have today for income to meet requirements. There was often a deficiency each year, but it appears that the Banks in those days were more obliging and did not charge for over-drafts.
Heating appears to have been a problem and the Church was often damp and cold and the Choir often complained about damp robes. The problem then, as now, was that the income was insufficient to keep the Church heated all through the winters. Three systems were tried. First there was a coke stove in a pit in the centre isle, which carried hot air (and fumes) through ducts. Then gas radiators were installed and finally, overhead electric heaters.
It is also interesting to note that no Lady acted as Sydesman or in any official capacity until the formation of the Parochial Parish council in 1955, but they formed the bulk of the Social Committee.
This page was last updated on 22 February 2007
