Abbey Lane Church repairs and renovation

of the Church at Abbey Lane reaches right back to the

emergence of Non-Conformity and the Free Church tradition in Britain.

John Bradford, one of the first protestant martyrs to suffer in Queen

Mary’s reign (he was burnt at the stake at Smithfield in 1555),

preached in Saffron Walden a number of times. Doubtless his life and

the manner of his death had a great influence on the people of Saffron

Walden, causing many to leave the Established Church. These early

dissenters remained faithful to their belief through many years and it

was largely their descendants who were responsible for the founding of

the church at Abbey Lane. This is traditionally regarded as having been

founded in 1665, making 2015 the 350th anniversary of the church.

The Toleration Act of 1689 enabled nonconformists

to spring into action, with

the erection of a meeting house at

Abbey Lane being completed in 1694.

Key events in the subsequent history of the Church include:

The opening of the current church building in 1811

The election of five members of Abbey Lane Church as Town Councillors in 1835 after the

repeal of the Test and Corporation Act

which had barred non-conformists from

public service. These included Alderman

John Player J.P., the first mayor of the

Borough after the passing of the

Municipal Corporation Act and the

Borough’s first Justice of the Peace

The construction of the schoolroom and

classrooms in 1861 to celebrate the

Jubilee of the Church building

At the beginning of the 20th century, Abbey Lane was a flourishing

church, attended mostly by trades people of the town. The church had

a large choir and a good Sunday School which met twice on Sunday as

well as attending the morning service. On special occasions such as

Harvest Festivals extra chairs had to be placed in the aisles.

Of late unfortunatly a leaking roof caused significant damage,

eventually leading to the ceiling collapse with cornice and panel

moulding falling.

A C PLASTERING pulled down the remaining loose ceiling &

decorative mouldings, stabilised the existing. Then re-lathed and

plastered with Limecote supplied by Best Of Lime.

A new cornice and panel mould was run to replace the damaged

areas.