In 1894 the Rev Anstice, vicar of Hungerford, retired after nearly 30 years in office. He knew the demands of the parish needed a younger man, one who had the enthusiasm and the physical strength for dealing with an ever growing parish. His successor was the Rev WAG Gray.

Determined to bring back to the Church the many people who were dragging their feet, the Rev Gray decided to ask the Church Army to send an Evangelist to work amongst the labouring and artisan population, whose scanty attendance at both St Lawrence and St Saviours was so distressing - especially the men.

Captain Hatton and his wife arrived on 10 Jun 1895 and set to work holding regular Mission services at various local venues, for example (Parish Magazine July 1896) regular Sunday services in the barn at Anvilles Farm (28 attendees) and "on the Lawn at Mr Brown's, Sanham Green" (45 attendees). They visited people in their own homes, and also held open-air services in Moon Lane, The Marsh, The Barracks, Smitham Bridge, Leverton and Hungerford Newtown. The Hatton's left Hungerford in July 1896 to move to Hammersmith.

In 1898 the Stantons took over, and the busy life they led and the great need they filled is recorded in the Parish Magazine of that period.

In March 1899 "Our kind and generous neighbour Lady Pearce (of Chilton Lodge) has given us a fresh proof of her interest in the spiritual welfare of the town, by deciding to build a Mission room for the Moon Lane district. (It was within the next month that the name "Moon Lane" was changed to "Priory Place").

"The designs have been drawn by Mr James H Money of Newbury, and the contract placed in the hands of Messrs Wooldridge and Son (of The Wharf, Hungerford).

The work of taking out the foundations has commenced, and we hope before the month is out to see good progress made with the building. It is to be completed by the beginning of August. Services will be held in it by the clergy and the Church Army evangelist."

The room was called St John's and was to be used by the Evangelists and the clergy for services and a mens club.

The "New Mission Room" opened on Thursday 12th October 1899. "The proceedings will commence with a short Dedicatory service. We hope to be able to entertain at tea all householders & their wives in the old "Moon Lane" district, and also the workmen who have been engaged on the building, and in the evening there will be musical entertainment".

Lady Pearce was presented with a bouquet by a lady called Widow Bennet and it is amusing to note that tea was first provided to the women, and another tea for the men. No doubt the women had to wash up for both sets!

A very full report of the opening events is in the November 1899 Parish Magazine:

The report adds "The excellent repast was catered for by Colour Sergeant Barnes of the Red Rose Cafe House and the general arrangements were superintended by Mrs. Hoy, who was the housekeeper at Chilton Lodge.

"Services will be held there by the Church Army Evangelist at 11am and 6pm on Sunday, as well as on one evening during the week.  It will also be open on Sunday afternoons for rest and reading. A meeting of the men of the district will shortly be held to make the necessary arrangements and rules for opening an evening club through the winter, and a Mother's meeting will be commenced forthwith."

The building and land was administered by Trustees. One of those was always the incumbent, and usually there were two additional Trustees. It was always independent of the Parish Church.

No sooner had the new Mission Hall been completed than Captain Stanton, who had been working in Hungerford for a year, received orders to move. His place was taken by Captain Elliott, from Rugby.

St. John's Mission Hall, 1984

Salisbury Road, c1910, showing
St. John's Mission Hall

Interior of St. John's Mission Hall, c1910,
This photograph was clearly taken at Harvest Thanksgiving, and the man on the right of the photograph is thought to be Captain Byrt, shown with his family.

St. John's Mission Hall, c1900

Mission Hall (undated)
[Rachel Neale, 3rd right back row; Joseph Edward, 2nd row third left]
[Kindly sent by Stella Sampson]

Mission Hall (undated)
[Joseph Neale, 5th from right, back row]
[Kindly sent by Stella Sampson]