NONCONFORMITY.
One recusant was re-
corded in 1640-1, and four Quakers in 1664. (fn. 98)
In 1778 two Independents attended the meeting
in Colchester, and in 1790 there was one
'Calvinist'. (fn. 99)
In 1789 Robert Spark registered his barn at
Houds farm as a place of worship by Inde-
pendents. In 1790 a chapel with seating for 300
was built opposite the rectory house on Spark's
land, and was taken over by the Countess of
Huntingdon's Connexion. (fn. 1) John Harris, minis-
ter c. 1795-1845, was apparently sent by the
countess of Huntingdon herself, because Ford-
ham, neglected by its Anglican incumbent, was
'very dark and benighted' and 'the people pro-
faned the sabbath on all sides'. He was intended
as a peacemaker, there having been differences
between the previous minister and the congre-
gation. (fn. 2) William Ellis, Spark's brother-in-law,
by will proved 1793, left £1,000. Spark, as
trustee of the will, bought Houds farm and land
nearby which, by his will proved in 1798, he
devised to the minister and his assigns together
with the income from £700 of his own estate. (fn. 3)
In 1810 a tenth of the Fordham population,
with others from neighbouring parishes, were
said to attend the chapel. (fn. 4) The chapel joined the
Essex Congregational Union in 1819. (fn. 5) In 1829
the congregation varied from 200 to 300, and
Harris also preached weekly in Wakes Colne and
Wormingford. (fn. 6) On census Sunday 1851 attend-
ances were recorded of 46 in the morning and
80 in the afternoon. (fn. 7) A succession of financial
difficulties arose from poor administration of the
bequests, and Houds farm was sold in 1931.
From the 1930s local Scots farmers gave some
financial support. (fn. 8) After the Second World War
congregations dwindled and the chapel was dis-
used from 1978, sold in 1983, and converted to
a house. Some services were subsequently held
at the parish church and village hall. (fn. 9)
The chapel was of three bays by five bays,
weatherboarded, with a hipped roof, hood-
moulded sash windows, and gabled porch;
inside there was a coved west gallery built in
1858. (fn. 10) A schoolroom was built. (fn. 11) A burial
ground was used from 1790 until 1990. A manse,
built c. 1790, was demolished c. 1970. (fn. 12)
In 1825 John Biggs's house was registered as
a place of worship. (fn. 13)
In 1850 Baptists were meeting in a cottage at
Fordham Heath. A Baptist chapel at Ponders
Road was mentioned in 1868. (fn. 14)
Primitive Methodists were meeting at Ford-
ham Heath in 1852, and built a chapel there in
1866. (fn. 15) It was replaced in 1933 with a timber
building at Halstead Road, Eight Ash Green,
which was extended in 1975 and 1986. (fn. 16) There
were 17 church members in 1954-5, and 24 in
1998. (fn. 17)