Heritage plaque unveiled in honour of church founder
Members of a church in Thatcham have welcomed descendants of its founder for a plaque unveiling in his name.
The Thatcham United Reformed Church welcomed nine members of the Barfield family, eight of whom were direct descendants of founder John Barfield.
Mr Barfield founded the church in 1804 followed by the British School in 1846, which sat adjacent to the church.
Members of the Barfield family were last at the church on its 200th anniversary in 2004.
The gathering on Sunday, October 9, was to mark the 175th anniversary of the opening of the British School on September 12, 1847.
Mr Barfield’s great-great-great grandson Sebastian Barfield unveiled the plaque in his name, which sits on the building itself.
The building has served many purposes, from being used for dancing lessons to weekly gatherings of toddlers and parents.
John Barfield was a solicitor who lived at the Priory on Church Lane. Besides being the founder of the church, formerly the ‘Independent Chapel’ Mr Barfield responded to a nationwide appeal from the Government for more schools.
He provided the land for the British School, which at the time held 220 pupils, and is still standing.
His wife Sarah Barfield was the school’s first manager and was “instrumental” in raising its funds.
Mr Barfield died in 1851 and Mrs Barfield left Thatcham soon afterwards.
