Jehovah's Witnesses

The new Kingdom Hall under construction in June 2004

The sect known as Jehovah's Witnesses has become a target of ridicule and even abuse because of their habit of unannounced doorstep calling, usually in pairs, and an insistence on reading long extracts of the bible to support their beliefs. Their activities in Bourne have been both widespread and regular in recent years and this method of proselytising has made them extremely unpopular with many people. All members are expected to participate in this house to house calling and there are no clergy.

The movement originated in the United States in 1872 under Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916), attaching great importance to Christ's second coming which he predicted would occur in 1914 and which Witnesses still believe is imminent. Members believe that after the second coming, the ensuing Armageddon and Last Judgement, which would entail the destruction of all except the faithful, will give way to the Theocratic Kingdom. Earth will continue to exist as the home of humanity, apart from 144,000 chosen believers who will reign with Christ in heaven.

Witnesses also believe that they should not become involved in the affairs of this world and their tenets, involving rejection of obligations such as military service, have often brought them into conflict with authority.

The sect has maintained a presence in Bourne since 1933 but was then part of the congregations at Stamford, Peterborough and Spalding, The first meetings of the independent Bourne congregation were held in 1950 at the old Co-operative Hall on the upper floor of No 17 North Street [now occupied by the Paper Chain newsagents and the Nationwide Building Society] where they remained fore eight years and then for a further spell at the Bourne Institute in West Street, moving to find more space each time the congregation expanded. In 1982, they moved into a late 18th century converted barn in a yard off Burghley Street at the rear of No 35 North Street that was once used as a pig sty and which they renamed the Kingdom Hall, the traditional name for all meeting places used by the Witnesses.

The old barn which the sect used as a meeting hall for 20 years

They leased the red brick and tiled property for 20 years but in 2002 it became apparent that more space was again needed when the congregation of around 50 began to grow and this made meetings in the old barn rather cramped. Members therefore decided that it was time to build their own Kingdom Hall and land in Victor Way was purchased and plans drawn up although when the planning application was submitted to South Kesteven District Council it was simply described as "a Christian meeting hall" because of fears that identifying the sect would influence the planning decision, an acceptance by them that they do not enjoy a widespread popularity.

The total cost of £150,000 was daunting but the members raised £70,000 themselves while donations came from other congregations sympathetic to the cause as Bourne was one of only ten in England without its own Kingdom Hall.

The speed with which the hall was built was surprising because it was erected from flat slab to roof by 250 workers including bricklayers, plasterers, carpenters, electricians and labourers, from the town and around the country, a remarkable achievement. Work on clearing the site began in December 2002 with people of all ages digging the foundations to bring them up to the damp course stage. Then during the summer of 2004, the qualified tradesmen moved in to finish the building work during two weekends of concerted voluntary effort and the final building has air conditioning and central heating with facilities for the disabled and a mother's room and a block-paved car park with 42 spaces while the design provides a maximum capacity of around 150 people, compared with fewer than a hundred at the previous premises.

Photo: Courtesy Lincolnshire Free Press and Spalding Guardian

Simon Hall, one of the five members on the project committee, could not conceal his pleasure when the building work was completed. “We have swapped a pig sty for a palace”, he said. “It means a great deal to the congregation because for the first time in their history, the Witnesses in Bourne have their very own place of worship. The congregation has worked hard for this day and they have proved what people can achieve when they pull together.” He added: “People imagine that there are just a few of us in Bourne but there are currently more than 70 members in the congregation and it is growing all the time with attendances at meetings regularly reaching over 100.”

But what of the financial considerations? “It is something we think about but it is not a major problem”, said Ken Walker, another member of the project committee. “Not only do our own congregation give freely and willingly but members of other congregations do so too and that is our strength.”

REVISED JUNE 2004

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