Early 1600s Wrentham is a Puritan parish. The Brewster family at Wrentham Old Hall are Puritans. They are responsible for employing the Rector and so choose incumbents who hold ‘dissenting’ views. Such a person is John Philip who is appointed Rector in 1609.

1636 Revd. John Philip driven out of his living by Bishop Wren of Norwich during persecution of clergy with Puritan ideas and travelled to New England. 

1636 Wrentham, Massachusetts is founded.

!643 John Philip returns from exile and is re-instated as Rector of Wrentham where the congregation conduct themselves according to Congregational principles.

1649 12 men, including John Philip and Francis Brewster, together with their wives and children, form ‘The Church of Congregational Principle’.

1662 The Act of uniformity – clergy who would not assent to the 39 articles of the Anglican prayer book are ejected from their living, among their number was Revd. Thomas King, Rector of Wrentham. However, the growing Congregationalist fellowship continue to meet in the parish church until they too are ejected in1668 and move their meetings to Wrentham Old Hall.

1710 First Congregational Chapel is built on land opposite the parish church now called Chapel Field.

1774 The number of worshippers is about 400 and come from all walks of life.

1774 A Sabbath School is established.

1778 The current chapel built, probably due to the village ‘migrating’ eastwards, at a cost of £690.Materials from the old building are either re-cycled into the new building or sold.

1783 Wrentham congregation joins the fight to abolish slavery.

1849 The Congregational Church celebrates its bicentenary. Revd. John Browne is appointed as minister, serves for 51 years, and earns a well-deserved local reputation as a learned and energetic challenger of injustice and champion of rights and wellbeing of agricultural labourers. During Revd. Browne’s time the chapel interior was re-modelled into its present box pew configuration and pulpit which incorporates the former pulpit from the parish church.

1871 The earlier school building opposite the chapel on Chapel Road is extended and re-opened.

1871 Revd. D Besley Williams, a notable preacher, becomes minister and stays for 21 years.

1910 Revd. Frank Kenworthy becomes minister and achieves respect on Wrentham’s football and cricket pitches. He is succeeded by Revds. Hughes, Bradley and Revd. Steel, the chapel’s last full-time minister who serves until 1944.

1972 Wrentham Chapel, together with most other Congregational churches and the Presbyterian Church in England and Wales, votes to become part of the newly formed United Reformed Church. The old manse (last house on the right before Benacre Estate Lodge) is sold and the proceeds are spent on essential repairs and renovation.

Late 1970s The congregation has dwindled and the chapel closes for regular worship.

1985 – to present Following the Billy Graham ‘Mission England’ Crusade the previous year, retired minister, Revd. Ted Smith and lay pastor Peter Morgan re-open the chapel for business. When Ted moves away and Peter subsequently dies, the chapel once more comesunder the oversight of the minister of North Lowestoft URC. 

Revd. Ian Fosten has fulfilled this role since 2000 up to the present day. Informal and accessible worship is held on 1stand 4th Sundays at 3pm, and the chapel lawn now incorporates a prayer labyrinth and a wildflower meadow.

Sunday congregations are small but the chapel offers an exploratory ministry through poetry, story and song events which are proving to be popular with the community. For the future, whilst we recognise that ‘church-going’ doesn’t fit well with contemporary culture, we are committed to making Wrentham Chapel, with improved inside facilities and fully utilising our grounds, a place of welcome and opportunity to explore how thoughtful worship, social justice, and an honest take on Bible and the real events of daily life can together provide a faith that makes good sense in today’s ever-changing world.