Kibworth Harcourt Congregational Chapel

"The life and times at Kibworth Harcourt's Meeting-house - where fame flourished and fortune passeth by."

Kibworth Harcourt Congregational Chapel, locally known as the "Top Chapel", was built in 1759. The Chapel, a rectangular building, once ivy-clad, now red brick, faces the main road to Leicester. It has mullioned windows with diamond leaded lights surrounded by coloured glass edging. Standing at right angles to the Chapel at its west end, and separated by an arched doorway leading to the old burial ground is a tall three-storeyed building called the Manse. Once a boarding school for young ladies and young gentlemen and home for church ministers, it is now a private dwelling.

After the Restoration (the re-establishment of the monarchy in Britain in 1660 when Charles II became king), Kibworth Harcourt became a centre for people who expressed different opinions. The first meetings of Protestant Dissenters were held in the loft of the stables behind the Old Crown Inn, now "The White House" situated on the right-hand side of Main Street on the main A6 to Leicester. In 1672, William Sheffield licensed his house, situated on this site, for Presbyterian worship.

Rev John Jennings, who resigned the living at Hartley Wespall Parish Church in Hampshire in 1662, eventually came to Langton Hall at West Langton where he became Chaplain to Mrs Pheasant. He gathered a church from people who lived in the neighbourhood and, for some years after Mrs Pheasant died, continued to assemble a dissenting congregation in her house. He moved with the meeting to Kibworth, at the time of the Toleration Act in 1689, where he established himself as minister of the Dissenters, continuing in this post until his death in 1701. John Jennings, a dedicated preacher, who spent much of his time studying, was held in high esteem by his people and neighbouring ministers. His two sons, John and David, were brought up in the ministry among the Dissenters. He was succeeded by his son, John Jennings, who from 1715 - 1722 formed and conducted an academy, specialising in education for young men who wanted to enter the ministry. A minister of high academic status, he had the privilege of teaching the noted hymn composer Philip Doddridge, a pupil in his academy. From this small beginning the academy blossomed into what is today, the Manchester College, Oxford. It is interesting to note that Mrs Jennings' father was Sir Francis Wingate of Harlington Grange, Bedford, who had committed John Bunyan to Bedford jail. John Jennings, the younger, removed to Hinckley and Philip Doddridge became the Minster in 1723.

Philip Doddridge commenced his studies with the academy in October 1719. He set himself high standards, beginning his day at five in the morning and studying for over ten hours a day. In 1721 half a year's board and tuition cost his guardian and benefactor Dr Clarke, eight pounds ten shillings and the New Testament interleaved, three shillings and eight pence. Philip Doddridge also moved to Hinckley in 1722, which compared unfavourably with Kibworth. In 1723 he moved back to Kibworth to take up his pastoral duties. His congregation, mainly farmers and farm labourers, consisted of 40 in the morning and 150 in the evening. By now these dissenters were known as Independents. Many of the hymns composed by Philip Doddridge are said to have originated in his sermons. The texts and lessons were put together in verse and at the end of the sermon the congregation were requested to sing them. From the pulpit Philip Doddridge recited the verses, line by line, and as he announced them, they were sung by the congregation. Members who could read and write, copied down the words of these hymns, hence keeping them safe for future generations. Queen Victoria chose one of his hymns, "O happy day that fixed my choice", for one of her daughters on the occasion of her confirmation. Philip Doddridge removed to Market Harborough in 1725, but still preached at Kibworth. In 1729 he left to take up the ministry in Castle Hill Chapel, Northampton. He is remembered as a well known Nonconformist Divine and teacher. Above the pulpit on the Chapel wall at Kibworth is a plaque in memory of Philip Doddridge and his study chair is still in existence.

Another noted minister was John Aikin, who was a pupil and then assistant to Philip Doddridge. He became the minister in 1749 and was father of Anna Laetitia, later Mrs Barbauld, the famous poetess and writer, who was educated at Kibworth and Warrington Academy. His son, John, who became a prominent physician and writer, married his cousin, Martha, who was the granddaughter of John Jennings. Hence, the ministry and academy were very much a family affair.

At this point it is interesting to look at the history of the Old Meeting-house. This information, gathered from a variety of different sources, is based on supposition. As already mentioned the first meetings were held in the stables behind "The White House", circa 1662. In 1672, William Sheffield lived in a house on this site for a short time and it seems possible that Rev John Jennings bought his house, where he lived until 1701. John Jennings, the younger, instigated the building of a large meeting-house on this site, which had the date 1722 on one of its walls. Philip Doddridge started his ministry in this Meeting-house where the ten commandments were written on the wall behind the pulpit, presumably this was "The White House". In 1759 the stables were burnt down and the present chapel was then built - two pewter plates were the only items that survived the fire.

The present Chapel was built by voluntary subscription: two men travelled as far as Warrington and Chatham to collect money. In 1761 the Chapel was licensed for Nonconformists, and the Manse was built in 1794. Later, in 1811, an extension was made on the east side of the Chapel to provide a vestry, vestibule and schoolroom. A gallery, which gave extra room for the large congregation, was added around this period. The Chapel was completely renovated in 1930 - 1931, when the organ was rebuilt and box pews were replaced. The new organ was in memory of Rev Francis Islip, his wife and their son, Francis William Islip. Before the electric blower was installed, it was necessary for someone to sit behind the curtain and pump air into the back of the organ.

THE OLD MANSE

Walter Dalton, a native of Kibworth, is a lifelong member of the Congregational Chapel. He remembers his childhood days of more than 60 years ago. In those days the Chapel was filled with a large congregation, who came for Sunday morning and evening services. Walter remembers the Rev Wyatt who left the Manse in 1955. Eventually it fell into disrepair and was later rented by an American family who lived in Bruntingthorpe. They renovated the Manse in the early 1960s and, when they moved , it was again left to decay. A few years ago it was sold, partly modernised and left empty for many months. After being sold again it has been fully refurbished. At present the Manse is up for sale once more.

One day in 1841 the world famous traveller, Thomas Cook, was walking from his home in Market Harborough to a Temperance Meeting in Leicester. As he passed the Chapel he had a brilliant idea for his first railway excursion. From this small beginning Thomas Cook went on to establish one of the largest travel organisations in the world. A plaque on the Chapel wall commemorates this occasion.

During the era of the Congregational Chapel and Old Meeting-house, a period of over 300 years (from 1662 to the present day), 20 ministers, including one lady minister, have preached their sermons from the pulpit of these special buildings:- Rev John Jennings 1662-1701; Rev John Jennings 1701-1722; Rev Philip Doddridge 1723-1729; Isaac Wilkinson 1731; John Aikin 1749; Steven Addington 1752; George Bullock 1788; Price Jones 1792-1802; Edward Chater 1802-1844; Francis Islip 1845-1866; Edmund Hipwood 1867-1895; J A Hopwood 1896-1908; Robert Deans 1910-1915; Gwilyn Thomas 1915-1927; William Plaskett 1927-1935; F T Williams 1936-1950; C R Wyatt 1951-1955; Wendy Williams 1960-1965; D H Morris 1971-1981; Pastor H A Wright 1981-1997

Rev Morris, who preached at a Congregational Chapel in Leicester, held a service once a month at Kibworth. When he left the ministry, Mr Wright, a lay preacher from Market Harborough Congregational Chapel, took over as Pastor, a position he holds to this present day. Members of the congregation now meet on the third Sunday of the month at 3.15 pm.

There are only memories of the large congregation whose singing once filled the Chapel, echoing and vibrating against its walls. They were generations of the past. Today the congregation is diminishing, only a handful of members meet to worship in this Old Meeting-house. What does the future hold?

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