Rehoboth Chapel

The Rehoboth Chapel following damage during major redevelopment at Regent Circus in 2014.

The dissenting congregation in Swindon was a relatively small one until the GWR Works came to town, attracting workers from across the country, many of whom were non-conformists.

By the end of the 19th century it could seem as if every street of red brick terraces had a chapel.

Many of these buildings still survive, some used as community halls, some occupied by small businesses and others converted into private dwellings. Perhaps even more surprisingly some continue to be used as a place of worship.

One of these chapels came under threat when the Regent Circus development shook the foundations of the Rehoboth Chapel at the bottom of Prospect Hill and almost caused its demolition.

The Chapel was closed for more than two years while the Regent Circus developers ISG undertook the extensive repairs needed on the 132 year old building. One of the corners of the chapel had subsided and had to be rebuilt while 38 new piles were driven into the foundations to which the walls were fastened.

The chapel reopened in 2016 and today looks good enough to last another 130 years.

Opening of a New Baptist Chapel

A new Baptist chapel which has been erected at the top of Rolleston-street, in an admirable position between Old and New Swindon, by a section of the Strict Baptist denomination, which seceded some four or five years ago from the church worshipping in Prospect, was open for public worship on Wednesday. Since the split the seceders have held their services in a hall in Bellevue-road, which has, however, become too small to accommodate the worshippers. The new edifice, which is a small, plain structure, in the Gothic style of architecture, will seat 200 persons, and is a light and well ventilated building. A considerable portion of the cost has yet to be raised. The opening proceedings commenced by a short religious service in the chapel, after which the worshippers adjourned to the Central-hall (which had been placed at their disposal by Mr C. Hurditch, of the Evangelistic Mission) where three sermons were preached in the course of the day to full congregations by Mr C. Hemington (Devizes) Mr W.S. Ford (Bath), and Mr A.B. Taylor (Cirencester). A tea meeting was held in the afternoon.

The Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, May 20 1882.