1662 Church founded following the Great Ejection, the mass expulsion of nonconformist clergy triggered by the Act of Uniformity.
1663-70 The Rev John Wesley is appointed first minister having been ejected from Winterborne Whitechurch for espousing nonconformity. His grandson John Wesley (pictured) went on to found Methodism.
1704 Meeting House built in Hell Lane (now Hill Street)
1760 Split from Unitarians and move to Skinner Street
1760 New meeting house built in Leg Lane (now Lagland Street)
1777 Present church constructed at a cost of £1,400
1787 Sunday School started by John Clinch
1814 Construction of north wing with vestries (now the parlour) at cost of £441 5s. 8d.
1823 Galleries erected on the north and south sides
1833 Infant school and colonnade portico added
1841 Gas lighting installed
1847 Gallery extended to east, completing the round as seen today
1851 Small organ installed
1855 Nine members seconded to form nucleus of a new church at Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, along with similar number from Christchurch Congregational Church
1877 Original 1760 building (used by British School) demolished to make way for new schoolrooms to celebrate centenary of church buildings
1880 Box pews removed and church reconfigured with pitch-pine pews and a new and enlarged pulpit. Lobby formed with new central doorway
1886 New organ replaces smaller instrument, made by Maley, Young & Oldknow, London. Still in use
1912 250th anniversary special efforts raise £300
1920 Electric lighting replaces gas lighting and internal and external decorations undertaken
1954 New vestries constructed in space behind pulpit in memory of Charles Barfoot
1941 Formation of the Fellowship of Youth under the Rev F O Brown
1957 Installation of the Barfoot screen behind pulpit
1962 Tercentenary celebrations with renovation of church hall
1965 Formation of the WAMS (Wives and Mothers) group
1967 Refurbishment of the organ. Opening concert by celebrated theatre organist Sandy MacPherson
1972 Formation of the United Reformed Church
1976 onwards Programme of repairs and improvements including in 1979 demolition of the church hall (infant school) and kitchen and completion of the Hamworthy Hall. Funded by Poole Council which purchased Hamworthy Congregational Chapel for social housing. Congregation came to Skinner Street.
1977 Bicentenary of present church building
2012 350th anniversary of founding of Poole church and Wesley’s ministry
2017 Website launched skinnerstreet.com
1663-70 Rev John Wesley
1722-1734 Rev William Madgwick
1735-? Rev Thomas Rowe
?-1752 Rev Samuel Hayward
1752-1765 Rev Samuel Phillipps
1766-1801 Rev Edward Ashburner
1801-44 Rev Thomas Durant
1844-61 Rev Eustace Condor
1861-68 Rev Thomas Verrall
1869-73 Rev Thomas Orr
1875 -76 Rev John Winsor Sampson
1879-87 Rev Ebenezer Evans
1888-91 Rev Owen Thomas
1892-00 Rev Enoch Hall
1902-06 Rev Frederick Arthur Hirst (pictured)
1907-12 Rev William Coates
1913-21 Rev Frederick Chalmers Rogers
1922-24 Rev Arthur Edward Chisman
1925-34 Rev John David Jones
1934-40 Rev Norman F Cocks
1940-55 Rev Frank Oswald Brown
1956-62 Rev Kenneth J Hibberd
1963-68 Rev James McKriell
1970-74 Rev Kenneth Fox
1976-83 Rev Bruce Warren
1986-90 Rev Wilfred A Kerr
1990-97 Rev David Bending
2000-04 Rev Daphne Hull
2007-11 Rev Tim Meachin