180 Years of History in Newbury
180 years ago, William W. Major walked through West Berkshire teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ as the first missionary in the area, and the Newbury branch was soon organised. In January 2023, Newbury Ward gathered to celebrate this anniversary in an evening of posters, presentations, socialising and soup!
Brother Colin Williams spearheaded the research, organising history enthusiasts from the ward and local history groups. The Newbury and District Field Club, Hungerford Historical Association, and others were all generous with their time and expertise. What started as an individual labour of love, became a wonderful community effort.
The January event brought old friends together and forged new friendships. Our full-time missionaries were guests of honour, as part of a long legacy of men and women who have brought the gospel message to local people.
There was a beautiful spirit as we celebrated. The history of the church in the area is compelling and tells of deep personal struggles and intense opposition, enough for members to meet together quietly, and be baptised in the middle of the night. Familiar names crop up: James E. Talmage from Hungerford, baptised when he was ten years old; Henry Ballard from Thatcham, great-grandfather of Elder M. Russell Ballard, baptised in 1849.
Since then, congregations have waxed and waned. We’ve gone from meeting in homes to having our own building, from being baptised in rivers at night, to having our own font, and the freedom to perform ordinances in daylight. The message that brought us all together, however, is exactly the same.
Our hope in presenting our history was that those attending might feel part of an intricate tapestry of lives woven together - a strong, compassionate, loving congregation who still believe the same doctrines William W. Major taught 180 years ago: that Christ restored His Church to the earth; He has a plan for us, He loves us, and He wants everyone in the world to hear that message of hope.