ad fled Roman Catholic persecution in France.
The surviving records provide an interesting glimpse at church life. Here is how the church would worship on the Lord’s Day:
The first day’s [i.e. Sunday’s] meetings be begun (as near as may be) aboute seaven in the morninge, and soe continue for the summer season. And the tyme employed as followeth. Vizt.
- In the tryall of gifts till 9 of the clocke. And that those 2 howers be improved by way of prayer.
- From 9 in the morninge till well towards 12 in a publique exercise.
- From one till 3 of the clocke in publique exercise.
- That after the dismission of those that are nott members the church spend one hower or 2 in communicatinge their experiences; inquiring after persons absent; trying the things heard and dutys neglected.
2. That the next first day seavennight the church breake bread.
If you were to visit the building today, you would see the church as it was renovated in the 1700’s. It is plain and unadorned. Box pews line the two sides of a central aisle, a plain pulpit rises high off the floor, and a baptismal pool waits beneath the pulpit. A small, rough table holds a couple of old and worn collection plates. The building is notable only for its simplicity and its historical significance. And yet it represents the very beginning of a movement that would expand rapidly and become a key part of the Protestant church.