Ceremonial Trowels from the construction of the Baptist Tabernacle, 1885
This month's item of the month is Ceremonial Trowels from the construction of the Baptist Tabernacle, 1885.
On the 4th November 1885 the foundation stone for the construction of the Baptist Tabernacle in Regent Street was laid in a ceremony involving local dignitaries and notable Swindon residents. These two silver trowels were presented to Hubert Deacon and Samuel Colborne who took part in the ceremony.
Hubert Deacon was a well-known Swindon businessman and one time owner of the family business Deacons Jewellers in Old Town. Samuel Colborne was also a local businessman and was a prominent member of the local Baptist Community.
The Baptist Tabernacle was a magnificent Roman style building with a frontage of six Tuscan columns holding up a large pediment. It could hold up to 1,000 people. By the beginning of the 1900’s there was a congregation of 780 members but by 1964 this had dwindled to just 270. In 1977 the Baptist Tabernacle closed its doors and was sadly demolished the following year.
These intricately engraved and inscribed trowels are a reminder of this important local landmark and its place in Swindon’s history.
- Baptist Tabernacle and Regent Street
