Ebenezer Chapel, Rooks Street, Cottenham

History of the Ebenezer Chapel

Dissenters first started worshipping in Cottenham in 1700. A meeting house was built in 1782; the congregation then split. As well as Ebenezer Chapel, there was also another place of worship in the centre of the village in which women often preacher. One special favourite was ‘Beggar Sue.’ (See William Coles Memoirs).

Ebenezer chapel was built on 40 square feet square purchased from William Kimpton. The foundation was laid in 1812.

Gas lamps were introduced in the 1860s and until WWII it was a well supported chapel. It closed in 1979 though with only five members.

William Coles in his Memoirs recalls the story of how C H Spurgeon had ben invited from Waterbeach chapel to preach. The minister Pastor Sutton was surprised to see that Spurgeon was so young and made it clear that he wasn’t expecting much of such a young man. As it was, everything turned out just right and Sutton and Spurgeon were forever the best of friends.