The Congregation & the Tree
Following Izzy's comment, I thought I ought to “do a Brian” and add a little more information on this picture.
Two minutes walk from the centre of Bury St Edmunds is a small car park, at the back of it you can find this very small graveyard, which most people pass without ever noticing.
The graveyard is all that is remaining of an old Baptist Chapel.
In the early 1800’s the membership of this chapel was in the region of 50 people. They called a new young pastor, Cornelius Elvin, and under his ministry the membership rapidly grew to 600. A new 1000 seat chapel had to be built in Garland street (about 300m away) and was opened in 1834, leaving only this little graveyard where the old chapel stood.
Elvin was instrumental in the opening of several other chapels in the surrounding area, Great Barton, Bradfield & Rougham, Glemsford etc., all of which are still active today.
Who planted the tree, I have no idea!
The Congregation & the Tree
Following Izzy's comment, I thought I ought to “do a Brian” and add a little more information on this picture.
Two minutes walk from the centre of Bury St Edmunds is a small car park, at the back of it you can find this very small graveyard, which most people pass without ever noticing.
The graveyard is all that is remaining of an old Baptist Chapel.
In the early 1800’s the membership of this chapel was in the region of 50 people. They called a new young pastor, Cornelius Elvin, and under his ministry the membership rapidly grew to 600. A new 1000 seat chapel had to be built in Garland street (about 300m away) and was opened in 1834, leaving only this little graveyard where the old chapel stood.
Elvin was instrumental in the opening of several other chapels in the surrounding area, Great Barton, Bradfield & Rougham, Glemsford etc., all of which are still active today.
Who planted the tree, I have no idea!