(photograph taken 2005)

Another tradition which ante-dates the Reformation was that of religious dissension. In 1890, a group broke away from the rigorous discipline of the members who controlled the local Baptist Church and built their own Free Church in the Croft.

Three men were responsible for setting up of this Church:-

Charles Dupont of Fysh House. He was the grandfather of Clifford Dupont the co-founder of Rhodesia.
Cornelius Hitchcock of the Mill.
Edwin Ennals, Maltster

Cornelius Hitchcock

It was erected in the Croft and it was designed at the outset with a possible conversion to a dwelling house in mind.
It had been used for its original purpose by the Free Church of Scotland until the 1939 war.
Records indicate the Rev Sherwin (or Sherwood) was the minister during 1939. He lived at "Apsley House" along the High Street

So, it had a continuous use as a Church for 49 years.
After the war it was taken over by the Womens Institute for their meeting place until it was converted into a private residence in 1960.
At that time it was renamed to `Pettits Hall`, but it has always been known as "Spite Hall" after the acrimony surrounding its breakaway from the local Baptist Church.
The Vicar of St Mary`s back in the early 1900`s, placed a note in the parish magazine stating "Dont let your children go to the Free Church or the Baptist"

During the mid thirties, Sunday afternoons would be taken up with small concert recitals with:-
Ethel Hume organist and conductor
Fred Reddit on double bass
Nora Reddit on Violin
also a young boy from Assington on the violin

Credit - Notes by Dr Brown (dec) Mrs Janet Frost (dec)
B&W Photo by Peter Richards