Nonconformity in Clifton

Early Nonconformity

In 1672 Charles II issued a Declaration of Toleration for Protestants dissenting from the Church of England; this had the effect of some dissenting meeting houses registering with the Secretary of State. The Toleration Act of 1689 enshrined the right of protestants to dissent from the Church of England and, once again, encouraged meeting houses to register voluntarily with local quarter sessions| and Anglican church. Registration provided protection against persecution, laying a duty of protection upon magistrates and so was popular with nonconformists. Most registrations were made with quarter sessions until the middle of the 18th century, presumably due to the mutual antagonism of nonconformists and established Church. However, from that point registration with the Church, via the local archdeaconry| began to become the favoured method, because the archdeaconry Registrar would issue a licence at any time rather than during the days each quarter when the quarter sessions met.

Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service has a reasonable number of registrations of nonconformist meeting houses in both the Quarter Sessions and Archdeaconry of Bedford archives. Registration continued through the 19th century even though persecution faded away - this was because registered buildings were allowed to claim exemption from parish poor rates, were exempt from control by the Charity Commission and were allowed to be licensed to carry out marriages. These things meant that registration became almost compulsory in practice for well established nonconformist meetings. This is fortunate for the local historian because sometimes the only surviving references to a nonconformist meeting occur as registrations.

In 1761 a nonconformist meeting was registered at the house of Edward Burridge of Clifton, an illiterate labourer [ABN1/1 and ABN2/18]. In 1776 another meeting was registered at the house of William Albone by William Tansley and John Harrison [ABN1/1 and ABN2/40]. In 1802 a meeting house was registered by Joseph Fisher, Richard Armour and William Green [ABN1/1 and ABN2/107] with a new meeting house being registered five years later [ABN1/1]. The denomination of these meeting houses is not recorded on the forms but it seems possible, given Clifton's later history that at least one might have been a Baptist meeting

Strict Baptists: Broad Street

Clifton Strict Baptist Chapel in March 2007

The first known reference to Particular, later called Strict, Baptists in Clifton is in 1841 when the chapel was registered by George Millard, Thomas Fane, Thomas Kent, Thomas Pope, Thomas Arnold, James Young, George Thompson, James Roberts and Thomas Rainden [ABN1/2 and ABN2/355]. The Baptists were a church based on the teachings of 16th century reformer John Calvin and his belief that Jesus Christ died and was resurrected only to pardon the sins of certain individuals - who were known as the elect. Towards the end of the eighteenth century Andrew Fuller modified some aspects of Baptist teaching around membership and communion and teaching that jesus Christ died for all, not just the elect.

This occasioned a split between his new General Baptists and the original Particular Baptists, now often referred to as Strict Baptists. The large chapel in Broad Street was a meeting place for Strict Baptists and was built in 1853 on land given by Samuel Wilson of Elms Farm. The chapel could hold 700 after galleries were constructed in 1863.

Evangelical Baptists: Providence Chapel, Shefford Road

Providence Chapel during Sunday worship, March 2007

This small meeting house was built in Clifton Fields in 1936. Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service has no records relating to this meeting.

Society of Friends

The Society of Friends are colloquially known as the Quakers. They had a meeting house and burial ground in Clifton in the house owned by John Arch and occupied by Thomas Medlicott, then George Neal. However, both meeting house and burial ground were sold in 1807 to the Rector, Rev.Daniel Stephen Olivier for £105.