Our History

Lavington has a long history. What you see today is the second building on this site and it was opened in 1869. Our story, however, begins in 1641 when two resolutions were passed by the House of Commons that in churches where there was no preaching in the afternoon, a lecture was to be given either by a Lecturer or Vicar. The Revd. William Bartlett was appointed Lecturer of Bideford in the same year and moved into the town in 1647 or 1648 when he was appointed to the living. The Congregation split in 1694 when the 'Little Meeting' built a chapel in the High Street and the 'Great Meeting' built a chapel in Bridgeland Street. The 'Little Meeting' closed in 1760 and most of the remaining members joined the 'Great Meeting'. A new chapel in Bridgeland Street, named after Rev. Samuel Lavington, was opened in 1859 and the church is now the Lavington United Reformed Church.