Artefacts
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Praise and worship has changed over the years in the chapel. In common with most churches, usually five traditional hymns were sung to organ accompaniment in most services, using the Congregational Hymn Book. This changed in the late 1980s however, when a small music group was formed, using a guitar and clarinets to lead a short time of worship. At the beginning, they mainly used Mission Praise booklets, then Songs of Fellowship. During this time, the church began to grow in numbers, enabling the music group to expand and incorporate more instruments, including keyboards. Technology enabled the words to be displayed on a screen, firstly by a simple overhead projector, then by a computer generated images, making word books redundant.
The Pulpit
The entire of the chapel was remodelled in 1818 and overseen by Rev Thomas Griffiths who also secured the funding. The total cost was about £650 and the re-opening service took place on 9th June 1818.
There were new galleries, a new floor, new seats and windows. The pulpit which used to stand on the north wall, was moved to the east wall and the whole interior moved by ninety degrees. This helped to accommodate the increase in the congregation.
The pulpit cloth seen in the photo was embroidered by Beatrice Rose (nee Martin)
The entire of the chapel was remodelled in 1818 and overseen by Rev Thomas Griffiths who also secured the funding. The total cost was about £650 and the re-opening service took place on 9th June 1818.
There were new galleries, a new floor, new seats and windows. The pulpit which used to stand on the north wall, was moved to the east wall and the whole interior moved by ninety degrees. This helped to accommodate the increase in the congregation.
The pulpit cloth seen in the photo was embroidered by Beatrice Rose (nee Martin)
Pewter Plate 1673 A pewter communion plate inscribed “The gifte is small, the love is all” bears the name Lydia Purnell, whose maiden name may have been Trotman. She was baptised in Stinchcombe Parish Church on 19th September 1630 and later married to William Purnell a clothier of Dursley. The plate was first used years before the chapel was built by the Meetingers of Cam, when they worshipped together in their homes. |
Communion
Traditionally, the communion table was placed on the diais under the pulpit with three ornately carved chairs. There was a pulpit rail around the edge of the diais with a gate which was left ajar during communion to signify all believers were welcome to take part. The Minister sat on the middle chair before blessing the bread and wine, with two deacons on either side. They would serve by taking the elements to the seated congregation on a communion plate and tray containing small glasses, so all could take the sacraments together. |
Parliament Clock
This is probably a act of parliament clock from the third quarter of the 18th century.
They were public service wall clocks erected by various institutions - such as taverns, hospitals, churches and public buildings, following the 1797 introduction of a clock tax by William Pitt in his efforts to raise funds for the wars against Napoleon, but churches where exempt from the tax.
The clock is fixed to the gallery
below the Sweetland organ on the west wall.
Ceremonial Bowl 1719 A brass and copper ceremonial handled bowl with an inscription reading Jonathan Axford 1719 Facit. It may be connected with "A dwelling house and barn of a John Axford and was licensed on 23 July 1689 for worship." There maybe a connection with a house licensed for Baptist worship in Erlestoke, Wiltshire. |
Modernization
In the 1980s these implements were found in the old coalhouse along with some coal and must have been used for stoking the stoves in the chapel and subsequently the solid fuel boiler. The gas fittings for lighting were removed in the renovation work and must have been used between the time when the church used candles and when electricity was installed. |
Cam Congregational Church was renamed 3C Community Church in 2008: