Author: alec.shute14@imperial.ac.uk

Tabor Church is built of white lias stone which was obtained from the local quarry in Lippiatt Lane at the back of Bloomfield which is now allotments. A seam of this white lias stone “The Silver Line” is found between Timsbury and surrounding district towards Bath. There is a story that the stone was hauled by a grey pony that went up and down Lippiatt Lane transporting the stone to the site – just that sturdy grey pony to do all the heavy work.

A large part of the labouring work and the carrying at the quarry was carried out by miners after their normal day’s work in the coal mines. There must have been many workers assisting in the

manual work but we have only been able to name a few who helped quarry the stone: Sidney Knight, a miner, Edmund Hayward, a miner, Jacob Sperring, a miner and Mark Kite.

The building work was carried out by the Smith firm, a local firm in Timsbury. Thomas Smith started in a modest way as a builder doing small jobs of work and he was later joined by his Son Alfred Smith. Tabor Chapel was their first big assignment and the cost was estimated at £400. So for four years the work continued and the Chapel was opened for worship in May 1869.

Based on “The History of Tabor” by Wilf Bridges

More on Tabor’s History

The beginnings of Tabor Church

History of Tabor’s organs

History of Tabor Hand Bells

It would seem that it all began in a very small way. A few Christian friends gathered together in little cottage meetings for prayer, the reading of God’s word and singing together. Others came and joined the meetings and numbers increased so they began to hold their meetings in the Temperance Hall.

God had begun a great work in Timsbury. The group were brought to the notice of the United Methodist Free Church at Radstock and a Minister came to the Temperance Hall and commenced special Evangelical Services. The Hall was filled each night and a deep influence rested upon all. During that week, forty eight are reported to have joined the church. Soon after this the group decided they would have a building of their own. The foundation stone of Tabor was laid on Thursday 4th May 1865 by a Mr Milsom of Reading who delivered an excellent address and closed with a £10 donation for himself and £10 for his wife. Afterwards, tea was enjoyed by about three hundred and fifty people.

At a subsequent public meeting held in a field believed to be adjacent to the Temperance Hall there were seven hundred people present and a collection of £45.14.4d was taken towards the building fund.

At around this time Moody and Sankey came to England from America. With Moody’s preaching and Sankey’s gospel singing they turned things upside down spiritually. The Moody-Sankey hymns were used and greatly loved by those Tabor converts especially in the Thursday evening preaching and prayer meetings.

Based on “The History of Tabor” by Wilf Bridges

More on Tabor’s History

History of the Church building

History of Tabor’s organs

History of Tabor Hand Bells

Tabor Ringers was formed in January 1993 by Joan Chivers, the wife of the Pastor of Timsbury Tabor Church at that time, John Chivers.

Twelve handbells had been given to the village of Timsbury more than 70 years ago, but had not been used for some time. The then Rector of St Mary’s Church, the Rev John Reed, was happy for Joan to have them to form a handbell group.

The original idea was to develop the interest of the young people of the church, but, as this failed to happen, Joan decided to try to interest the adults. 10 people (some of whom still play today) came forward and with Joan conducting was eventually able to make their debut appearance at Tabor’s Spring Fayre in June 1993. This was held in Wilf Bridges garden – but the only tune which was good enough to be played in public was “Good King Wenceslas”. ,

As confidence grew, the ringers started to undertake outside engagements. In 1994 the Thursday Club at Midsomer Norton was the venue for their first venture away from Tabor Church.

Early in 1995, a set of hand chimes was purchased to complement the bells, thanks to a sizeable donation from one of the members Jeanne Shute in memory of her late husband Len, and to contributions from others in the group

Since then the group has gone from strength to strength and now regularly appears at residential homes, nursing homes and over-60s clubs in the area.

With the formation of a singing group, Tabor Singers, and several members who give recitations it is now possible to provide a more varied programme at engagements.

More on Tabor’s History

The beginnings of Tabor Church

History of the Church building

History of Tabor’s organs

Tabor’s first instrument was the Harmonium. It had a rather loud harsh tone but was the best that could be afforded at the time. All we have today to remind us of it is the short pew towards the back of the Chapel where it was situated and the high pitch pine stool in the lobby.

The harmonium was replaced by a succession of organs: an American organ, a single Manual Sweetland pipe organ, which went in 1946 to the New Methodist church at Keynsham, and a Two Manual pipe organ from Hanham Baptist Church. The current organ came from Clandown Methodist Church when it was closing down. It was built by Joseph Tucker of Bourton, Dorset. Mr Denning had played the organ for 60 year at Clandown and was also keen that his organ should come to Tabor. “Let it go to Tabor, it will be well looked after there” were his word to the Minister. The organ was completely restored. Additional work to the organ case was carried out by Bert Bridges and Alan Lewis. Bert and Wilf Bridges cleaned and varnished all the case panels and cleaned and polished the pipes along the front prior to its re-assembly.

More on Tabor’s History

The beginnings of Tabor Church

History of the Church building

History of Tabor Hand Bells