NONCONFORMITY.

Some members of the Bellamy family who owned land in the parish in the late 16th century were recusants. (fn. 48) Ralph Noble, yeoman, was indicted for recusancy in 1581 (fn. 49) and Anne Berrowe in 1640. (fn. 50) Eleven residents, presumably papists, were accused of not attending church in 1674. (fn. 51) There were said to be three papists in the parish in 1676 (fn. 52) and one in 1706. (fn. 53) The Sisters of St. Martha established a convent at Hadley Bourne in 1948 (fn. 54) but there was no Roman Catholic church in 1971.

There were 17 dissenters in 1676. (fn. 55) A Wesleyan group, established by 1760, (fn. 56) met later in the building in Barnet High Street now used as Barnet Baptist tabernacle. The chapel was occupied by Wesleyans until 1891 (fn. 57) but registered in 1893 by Baptists, (fn. 58) whose congregation existed by 1845. (fn. 59) It is stuccoed, with round-arched windows, and has been much altered externally. Methodists also worshipped in Hadley chapel, Hadley Common, from 1861 to 1892. (fn. 60)

William Lloyd registered the schoolroom of his house as a place of worship for Independents in 1808 (fn. 61) but in 1810 there were said to be only two dissenters in the parish, apart from Methodists, (fn. 62) and no permanent Independent chapel was established. A building at Hadley Green in the possession of Henry Williams was registered by unspecified Protestants in 1819. (fn. 63) Barnet Baptist tabernacle was the only nonconformist place of worship in 1971.

Footnotes