The opening service, in what was then called the Gospel Hall, was on Whit Sunday 31st May 1914, with special services for Bible teaching on the bank holiday the next day.
The structure of the main building is basically the same now as then, but people's needs and lifestyles are vastly different, and the premises have been changed accordingly. Inside toilets and central heating were added in the 1990s. A forecourt replaced the front boundary wall and steps in 2006. A side annexe, fully fitted kitchen, large upstairs room with shower and toilet facilities, and a fully integrated audio visual system were added in 2014. More is planned! People change; buildings need to change accordingly; but our GOD never changes! |
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Before the beginning!
It began with a concern for the young men of Lyme by Mr Davey, a draper, and a stationer named Daniel Dunster, whose Broad St premises is still a shop opposite Tesco. They asked "Can nothing be done for these young men?" and agreed to "Pray for them." On 19th May 1858, 'out of the blue', a young man named Tom Brown was in such spiritual distress he asked Daniel to pray for him.
That was the first answer to prayer. Within 3 weeks many people, including 42 young men, of whom 5 or 6 worked for Daniel, 2 being his lodgers, were 'saved'. That is how the Bible describes putting simple faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and God’s free gift of eternal life. One of them was 18 year old Fred Hallett who later moved to Cardiff.
They were baptised by total immersion in water as a public declaration of their faith in Christ, but they also wanted to remember the Lord Jesus in the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week, which the Bible indicated to be the practice of the 1st century church. As they could not do this elsewhere, they decided to meet independently for that purpose.
That was the first answer to prayer. Within 3 weeks many people, including 42 young men, of whom 5 or 6 worked for Daniel, 2 being his lodgers, were 'saved'. That is how the Bible describes putting simple faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and God’s free gift of eternal life. One of them was 18 year old Fred Hallett who later moved to Cardiff.
They were baptised by total immersion in water as a public declaration of their faith in Christ, but they also wanted to remember the Lord Jesus in the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week, which the Bible indicated to be the practice of the 1st century church. As they could not do this elsewhere, they decided to meet independently for that purpose.
Before the present building
The first meeting place was Monmouth House in Broad St, which was replaced by the Post Office in 1929. Daniel Dunster died or, as Christians say, was called Home to be with the Lord, while those meetings were in their infancy. Mr F Wheadon was prominent in the meetings at that time. An Irish lady called Miss Prosser then provided a room in her Monmouth St home for Sunday morning and evening services, while a Miss Board who had attended similar gatherings in Welbeck St, London, opened her Silver St house for Bible studies on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings.
If those people were to attend Bethany today, much of the services would seem pretty familiar to them. That does NOT mean that Bethany’s services today are old fashioned - far from it - but as indicated, the basic ingredients cannot change.
Other names known from those days were Mr H Miller, Miss Hallett, John Randall and Mr C Miller. One thing in Lyme that is the same today as then, is that lots of young people were leaving Lyme to find work elsewhere, which left very few to sustain the services. That did not prevent a Sunday School being started, even with only 2 or 3 children. The next known meeting place rented was the Baths, later the Drill Hall, eventually to become the Marine Theatre. Seats and lamps were installed and a baptistry built. At the same time, the British School in Mill Green [where was that; opposite the Angel where newish houses are now?] was rented for tea meetings addressed by visiting speakers. Those services were so well attended free entrance tickets had to be obtained in advance. We have the names of Mr & Mrs Sansom joining the worshippers about this time.
Members of the Hallett family were heavily involved throughout till well into the 1940s, maybe 1960s.
The meetings moved to Victoria Hall, an 1866 extension to the Assembly Rooms. These were demolished in 1928, and the Cobb Gate car park and Millennium Clock now occupy the site. Numbers again increased. One Whitsun preacher from those days was Frederick Lambart, 8th Earl of Cavan, who died in 1887 aged 71. Another move was to Coombe House, which is the name of today's 41 Coombe St. Is it the same? A Mrs Hallett and a Mr Osborne were among those attending.
The Christians meeting in this way were often nicknamed 'Brethren'. Kelly's Directory of 1911 lists 'The Brethren, Coombe Street.' The 'Illustrated Guide to Lyme and Neighbourhood', published early in the 20th century by F Dunster of Broad St [Daniel’s son?], says 'The Brethren meet in a nice commodious room in Coombe Street'. A Directory at the back of the book lists 7 churches, of which only 4 are operating today, and shows 'Meeting Room of Brethren, Coombe Street.'
If those people were to attend Bethany today, much of the services would seem pretty familiar to them. That does NOT mean that Bethany’s services today are old fashioned - far from it - but as indicated, the basic ingredients cannot change.
Other names known from those days were Mr H Miller, Miss Hallett, John Randall and Mr C Miller. One thing in Lyme that is the same today as then, is that lots of young people were leaving Lyme to find work elsewhere, which left very few to sustain the services. That did not prevent a Sunday School being started, even with only 2 or 3 children. The next known meeting place rented was the Baths, later the Drill Hall, eventually to become the Marine Theatre. Seats and lamps were installed and a baptistry built. At the same time, the British School in Mill Green [where was that; opposite the Angel where newish houses are now?] was rented for tea meetings addressed by visiting speakers. Those services were so well attended free entrance tickets had to be obtained in advance. We have the names of Mr & Mrs Sansom joining the worshippers about this time.
Members of the Hallett family were heavily involved throughout till well into the 1940s, maybe 1960s.
The meetings moved to Victoria Hall, an 1866 extension to the Assembly Rooms. These were demolished in 1928, and the Cobb Gate car park and Millennium Clock now occupy the site. Numbers again increased. One Whitsun preacher from those days was Frederick Lambart, 8th Earl of Cavan, who died in 1887 aged 71. Another move was to Coombe House, which is the name of today's 41 Coombe St. Is it the same? A Mrs Hallett and a Mr Osborne were among those attending.
The Christians meeting in this way were often nicknamed 'Brethren'. Kelly's Directory of 1911 lists 'The Brethren, Coombe Street.' The 'Illustrated Guide to Lyme and Neighbourhood', published early in the 20th century by F Dunster of Broad St [Daniel’s son?], says 'The Brethren meet in a nice commodious room in Coombe Street'. A Directory at the back of the book lists 7 churches, of which only 4 are operating today, and shows 'Meeting Room of Brethren, Coombe Street.'
The present building as the Gospel Hall
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Denning's Court, a terrace of 8 condemned cottages end on to Coombe St [formerly Horse St], was purchased for £200. The Gospel Hall, as it was then known, was built on the site for £233 by Lyme builders, Caddy & Sons. The final bit of wall from the cottages was only removed in 2008!
The 1914 Trustees included William Caddy, a builder who retired in 1943. Was he the builder of the hall, or his son? One of the 1943 Trustees was Eddie Lovering, a science teacher at the Grammar School, now Woodroffe Comprehensive. He later moved to Ilfracombe, and was a well respected Bible teacher, both preaching and writing. Large numbers of US troops were billeted in Lyme for the build up to the D Day invasion of June 1944, and the Christians meeting at the Gospel Hall were very active in ministering to their spiritual needs. Towards the end of 1971, only Mr Thomas Staples of Coram Tower and a few ladies were meeting at the Gospel Hall. His sickness and frailty made it impossible to continue and the premises were closed. |
The present building as Bethany Chapel
The renamed building was reopened on Sunday 15th October 1972, with exactly the same Biblical principles as before. There were just 3 people to start, including Mr & Mrs Walter & Sheila Parnham. They were shortly joined by Graham Wood who is still with us now. He can remember, from his days in Chard, coming in the 1950s to the annual meetings for Christian fellowship and Bible teaching, when the Gospel Hall didn’t have to be concerned about lack of parking, and the congregation was so large some had to sit on the wide window sills!
Over the next 4 years there is a record of lots of children and young people coming to Sunday morning "Adventurers", with Bibles and other books being given at the annual prize giving. There were Christmas parties, and various outings for them and the "Women’s Hour".
A number of pupils at the Grammar School, including some boarders, were saved and baptised.
On a number of occasions there was a series of services every day for 1 or 2 weeks, conducted by visiting evangelists, including the late John Hadley from Bodmin, plus Stephen Gillham from Ferndown who still conducts several services here each year. One 1976 series of meetings was held in a marquee pitched on land offered by Mr Froom of Middle Mill Farm, along the River Lym footpath towards Uplyme.
For quite a while during this period there were monthly film nights, showing films with a wide variety of Christian themes, many from the ‘Fact and Faith’ series.
United Beach Missions started visiting Lyme in 1971 and were soon using the chapel for their accommodation etc, during their annual summer visits to provide free Christian based entertainment on the sands for children and families. This is still much appreciated by locals, as well as many visitors who return year after year to take advantage of this Beach Team provision.
Over the next 4 years there is a record of lots of children and young people coming to Sunday morning "Adventurers", with Bibles and other books being given at the annual prize giving. There were Christmas parties, and various outings for them and the "Women’s Hour".
A number of pupils at the Grammar School, including some boarders, were saved and baptised.
On a number of occasions there was a series of services every day for 1 or 2 weeks, conducted by visiting evangelists, including the late John Hadley from Bodmin, plus Stephen Gillham from Ferndown who still conducts several services here each year. One 1976 series of meetings was held in a marquee pitched on land offered by Mr Froom of Middle Mill Farm, along the River Lym footpath towards Uplyme.
For quite a while during this period there were monthly film nights, showing films with a wide variety of Christian themes, many from the ‘Fact and Faith’ series.
United Beach Missions started visiting Lyme in 1971 and were soon using the chapel for their accommodation etc, during their annual summer visits to provide free Christian based entertainment on the sands for children and families. This is still much appreciated by locals, as well as many visitors who return year after year to take advantage of this Beach Team provision.
Up to date!
While we are grateful to the Lord for enabling us to improve our premises, we have always been keen to 'think outside the box' of the Chapel building. We regard it as merely a useful tool and a base from which to reach out into our community.
When the Lord Jesus was here on Earth, He constantly showed practical compassion to all sorts of people without fear or favour, alongside His prime objective of giving God's free forgiveness and salvation to anybody who would accept it by putting their faith in Him.
Small ways in which we have tried to do this sort of thing are
These activities are in addition to our own events at the Chapel and, except on Sunday mornings, are always accompanied by free refreshments to a greater or lesser degree. We are thrilled that nobody ever seems in a rush to leave after any of our services. Perhaps we should have a sign outside saying "Friendship freely available here"!
Within the town, we distribute a limited number of free monthly 'Good News' papers. If anybody locally would like one, please 'CONTACT' us. Each year, we give away lots of free pictorial Bible text calendars containing an appointment facility. We also hold free board games evenings and film nights occasionally, with a Christian content, followed by free hot dogs or similar. Some of us volunteer in local primary schools by way of conducting assemblies, listening to reading, etc.
Please keep checking this site for new events.
Please come and see us soon; you'll be very welcome!
When the Lord Jesus was here on Earth, He constantly showed practical compassion to all sorts of people without fear or favour, alongside His prime objective of giving God's free forgiveness and salvation to anybody who would accept it by putting their faith in Him.
Small ways in which we have tried to do this sort of thing are
- coffee mornings where all payments are voluntary and go to Lifeboats, Air Ambulance and Macmillan Cancer Support;
- monthly services in Residential Care Homes, not yet resumed post Covid;
- fetching residents from Care Homes to our weekly Sunday afternoon services, again suspended;
- contributing to and helping with Lyme's Food Bank from its inception;
- contributing towards public defibrilators in the town;
- hosting free CPR training and defibrillator familiarisation;
- hosting free cookery courses in our modern, fully equipped kitchen, for people seeking basic skills;
- lending the Chapel to support groups for people recovering from mental illness, substance abuse, etc;
- lending the Chapel to Social Services and NHS facilities to save local clients travelling further afield.
These activities are in addition to our own events at the Chapel and, except on Sunday mornings, are always accompanied by free refreshments to a greater or lesser degree. We are thrilled that nobody ever seems in a rush to leave after any of our services. Perhaps we should have a sign outside saying "Friendship freely available here"!
Within the town, we distribute a limited number of free monthly 'Good News' papers. If anybody locally would like one, please 'CONTACT' us. Each year, we give away lots of free pictorial Bible text calendars containing an appointment facility. We also hold free board games evenings and film nights occasionally, with a Christian content, followed by free hot dogs or similar. Some of us volunteer in local primary schools by way of conducting assemblies, listening to reading, etc.
Please keep checking this site for new events.
Please come and see us soon; you'll be very welcome!
