Church History
Our church history may be of interest to some and it is certainly varied and unusual at times:
At the very beginning
An extract from the church book, dated 1830 (but probably written a year later). The author is unknown but the same copper plate handwriting runs throughout the church book from 1831-33 :-
The Vineyard Chapel Richmond was erected in the spring of the year 1830 and was opened for Divine Worship on the 21st July 1831. ..........more
The church building
The original building was erected in 1830. The land, on the slope of Richmond Hill, belonged to the Rev. Reynold Hogg. The plot was 34½ rods in size and had a coach house on it. The coach house was located on the site of the current entrance to the Project at the front of the church. ..........more
The Great fire of Richmond 1851
 The church had only been open 20 years when a massive fire, which started in Upper Hill Street, destroyed the building completely. Early in the morning of August 16th 1851, a bakers shop, owned by a Mr Andrews caught fire and this was spotted by a passing police constable at about the same time as the owner was woken up by the noise of the flames. The fire soon spread to the next door shop, belonging to a cabinet-maker, which contained a lot of inflammable material. ..........more
Prime ministers and politicians
Several politicians at have one time been associated with the Vineyard Church in Richmond: Harold & Mary Wilson in the 40's, before his term as prime minister; in the 50's , MP Tony Benn's mother Lady Stansgate, together with her friend Elsie Chamberlain, the first female minister and broadcaster......
Photos: copyright The Vineyard Church
Alan Collenette
In more recent history former Prime Minsiter Tony Blair hade ambitions as a musician and rock promoter which were first tried out at the Vineyard .......more
Vincent Van Gogh
Back in the 1870’s a young Dutchman came to work in London at the showroom of the art dealer Goupil & Co in Covent Garden. It was a promotion for him, as he had already worked for 4 years as an assistant at Goupil’s gallery in the Hague. That young man who arrived in 1873 aged 20 was Vincent Van Gogh. The intriguing tale of his possible connection to the Vineyard Church was about to unfurl...........more
Thomas Wilson 1764-1847: philanthropist
Once in a while it's possible to stumble across someone whose life was really extraordinary. Richmond was briefly touched by someone like this whose vision is evident today. His name was Thomas Wilson, a Christian businessman whose act of generosity, amongst many others elsewhere, was to build the Congregational Church that stands in the Vineyard, off Hill Rise...........more
Pleasant Sunday Afternoon brotherhood
This organisation started in 1893 when Alfred Deayton, a member of the church, came back from a visit to Luton full of enthusiasm about a 'Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Meeting' he had attended. He got the minister, Percy Martin and others interested and a committee was formed. Its objective was to bring into church those 'not connected to any place of worship' on Sunday afternoons. Its motto was 'brief, bright and brotherly' and the intent of all involved was to make 'everyone feel that they are midst of those who love and care for them, temporarily and spiritually.'..........more
Sharing the Good News
The first members of the church, back in 1831, had a heart for their community; as they recorded in the church minute book :- 'the present undertaking may therefore be strictly served a Missionary effort by carrying the preaching of the Gospel into the midst of a forgetful and slumbering people.' ..........more
Spotlight on 1911
Prior to the First World War, the church produced a series of detailed annual printed reports. Those that survive cover the years 1876 to 1882 and 1899 to 1906. A further one was published in 1911 after which it appears that production ceased. They provide a fascinating insight into the life of the church during this period, when church membership was high and there were a variety of different activities being undertaken - spiritual, social and philanthropic. ..........more
1914 Memorial Fund
In November 1919, twelve months after the First World had ended, a meeting was held to discuss how those from the church who had been killed in the war, should be honoured. Attended by members of the church, the congregation and 'the Brotherhood', and chaired by the minister, Rev, F.W. Aveling, various suggestions were considered ........more
Church Ministers
A brief history of church ministers at the Vineyard .........more
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