304 



Notes on the History of Mere. 



Matthew's Day (21st September), in that year. The Church is 

 built of Mere Stone with Ham Hill dressings. The inside is brick. 

 The roof is of pitch pine, and is covered with tiles from Bishop's 

 Waltham. Wood blocks form the floor of the nave, and the chancel 

 is laid with Maw & Co.'s tiles. The windows are glazed with 

 Cathedral glass, the work having been executed by Mr. Horwood, 

 of Frome. The three central windows of the apse are in stained 

 glass by the same firm, representing Our Lord in Majesty, to the 

 memory of Miss Julia E. Chafyn Grove, who died November 27th, 

 1891, the north light containing a representation of the Virgin 

 Mary, the south, of St. John. The font was presented by the 

 Rector and Churchwardens of Pylle Church, Somerset, on their 

 discovery of the original font of their own Church. The builders 

 of the Church were Messrs. John Hooper and Charles Coward, both 

 of Mere ; the architect, C. E. Ponting, Esq., F.S.A. 



Dissenting Chapels. 



The first mention of a Meeting-House is in the churchwardens' 

 book : — - 



" 1705. At y e Church was 8 s . and 8d. at y e Meeting House, 10 s . in all." 



"1706. Collected briefs. Chatteris March 31, 8\ Morgan's Lane, South- 

 wark Aug. 18 th 17*. 2 d . 2q. whereof was collected at y e Meeting House 6*. 2 d . 2q- 

 Bafford Church Sept. 8th, 10 8 . 6 d . Great Torrington Sept 22, 16 8 . 2 d . whereof 

 5 s . 10 d . was Collected at y e Meeting House." 



" William Smith Nov. 17th ll 8 . 6 d . 2q. whereof 4 s . 6 d . 2q. was collected at y e 

 Meeting House." 



" 1707. Briefs collected. North Marston June y e 8th 17s. 7d. whereof is 

 collected at Meeting Ho. 



" For Shire Lane at y e Church Fourteen shillings, at y e Meeting House Five 

 shillings. In all nineteen shillings. July 6th." 



" For Towcester at y e Church Ten shillings and four pence, at y e Meeting 

 house Three shillings ninepence. In all fourteen shillings and one penny July 

 y e 27th." 



" For Little Port September y e 7th at y e Church Twelve shillings ; at y e 

 Meeting House Three shillings and Eleven pence, in all Fifteen shillings and 

 Eleven pence." 



" For Spilsby at y e Church Sixteen shillings, at y e Meeting House Seven 

 shillings : In all Twenty three shillings. 



" Collected for Southam Brief y e sum of Twelve shillings." 1 



1 These are the last briefs entered in the accounts ; before this time, for 

 upwards of a hundred years, they are annually recorded. 



