Chapel Yard

Author Carol Needham

Walkers off the beaten track on the footpath which runs from the junction of Sandy Lane and Clipped Hedge lane towards Northrepps, will come across a small field ringed by an impressive stand of mature lime trees. Those with a keen eye will notice a number of old gravestones standing amongst the undergrowth. The Old Chapel Yard as it is now known, is the site of a former non conformist Meeting House. The story of the Meeting House and later Chapels in the village itself follows closely the turbulent history of the Non Conformists in England. Non Conformism thrived in Southrepps from Elizabethan times, through the upheaval of the Civil War, the Commonwealth, the Restoration and up to the time of Wesley and the present day.

The seeds of Non Conformism lie in the reaction to the strident efforts of Elizabeth 1 to establish the Anglican Church as the established church throughout England. Non Conformist ideas were promulgated by theologians and even some clergy within the Anglican Church. Prominent among these was Samuel Oates who was appointed Rector of Southrepps in 1588. Samuel Oates’ patron was Lord Francis Walsingham, an influential Puritan in the court of Elizabeth and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The Low Church tradition was well established in Southrepps by 1605. At some time in the mid 17^th century, a Meeting House was built on the Old Chapel Yard. Edmund Brome, who was a famous preacher, was appointed Rector of Southrepps Church in 1647 and was sufficiently Low Church to tolerate a Meeting House well within sight of the Parish Church. He also survived Cromwell’s Commonwealth. Records show that after his eviction in 1660 on the restoration of the monarchy, Brome continued his, now illegal, non conformist ministry and preached at the Meeting House in Southrepps and other places between Alby and Bradfield. In 1662 following the Act of Uniformity approximately 2000 vicars and rectors were driven from parishes as non-conformists. Throughout the rest of the 17^th century toleration of non conformists varied. At times Meeting Houses were licenced. At the time of Monmouth’s rebellion, preachers were imprisoned including John Lougher who preached at Southrepps. His cell can be seen at Norwich Castle.

The 18^th century brought greater stability to the Southrepps Meeting House. It became part of the Congregational Church of Bradfield and North Walsham. There were regular weekly services and records of the preachers exist. One preacher John Fletcher, who lived in North Walsham travelled every week in spring and summer on horseback to Southrepps for over 40 years.

To this day footpaths and bridleways link the Meeting House with the nearby villages of Northrepps, Southrepps, Bradfield, Thorpe Market and Gimingham. These remote lanes around the Old Chapel Yard were well known in the 18^th century for smugglers moving French brandy and gin landed at Cromer, Overstrand and Sidestrand. Small woods adjoining the Northrepps Road were shown on maps as greater and lesser Smugglers Grove. It is even rumoured that the goods were hidden in the Chapel Yard and even in the Chapel itself!

At this time relations with the Parish Church were peaceful and even friendly. It was not uncommon for people to attend the Parish Church to satisfy the law and the Chapel to satisfy their faith. Only Anglican  communicants could enter public service and professions. Only Anglican ceremonies of baptism and marriage and their register entries were legal.

Toward the end of the 18^th century congregations at the Meeting House declined. Wesleyan Methodists subsequently used the building for their services and took full possession of the building in 1799 for the sum of 10 shillings.

In 1845 the Meeting House was demolished and a new Methodist Chapel was built in the village of Southrepps on that part of the High Street now known as Chapel Street. Stone from the old building was used for the foundations of the new. The land was bought from Leonard Haddon, a farmer and blacksmith, for the sum of £3. In 1953, a further small piece of land was donated to the Chapel by Lillian Bartram of Church Farm. The graveyard at the Meeting House continued to be used for burials until 1870. The new Methodist Chapel was a place of worship until it closed in 1979 due to the poor condition of the building. The Chapel is now a private house.

In 1868 a Primitive Methodist Chapel was opened in Lower Southrepps on Long Lane now called Chapel Road. The small congregation from Upper Street moved here until it too closed in 2009. It belonged to the Primitive Methodists until 2015 when it was sold. It is also now a private house.