protestant nonconformist christian denominations have a long history in the market town of farnham: congregational and presbyterian groups were well established by the late 17th century and had joined in 1793 to form ebenezer chapel. augustus toplady, anglican cleric and hymnwriter, held calvinist views; and the ejection in 1782 of popular curate william gunn from the parish church encouraged the formation of small, informal groups which worshipped according to nonconformist doctrines.