Denominations

Anabaptist

In the 18th century Chinnor had a small number of Anabaptists. In 1732 a private house in Chinnor was licensed for Anabaptist worship, and in 1759 and 1768 six people from Chinnor worshipped at an Anabaptist meeting house in Princes Risborough.

Congregational

The Congregationalist John Cennick (1718–55) preached in Chinnor but Chinnor Congregational Church was not built until 1805. It was enlarged in 1811 but suffered a schism in 1826, when a rival second chapel was built. The schism had been healed by 1839, by which time the second chapel had been converted into the minister's manse. By 1841 the minister had opened a British School. A schoolroom was added to the chapel in 1884 and the chapel was restored in 1888. In 1893 funds were raised to add an infants' classroom to the school but by the end of the year the school had closed.The church survives as Chinnor Community Church.

Methodist

The Methodist George Whitefield (1714–70) preached in Chinnor and in 1753 two private houses were licensed for Methodist worship. In 1759 Chinnor's Church of England rector reported that a third of the parish was Methodist. By 1768 the Methodists had opened a small school in Chinnor. In 1778 he reported that they were increasing but by 1784 the reported proportion had fallen to a quarter of the population.

The first Chapel was erected in Chinnor soon after 1840.  This building, in Station Road, still stands but now much altered. By 1870 this Chapel was inadequate for the large congregations; so in 1871 the Trustees purchased land for a new and larger place of worship.  The purchase price paid on October 10th 1871 for the land, together with house and adjoining cottage (which became the Manse and Caretaker's cottage) was £316.

The foundation stones were laid on 29th July 1872 and these are now incorporated in the in-side of the church wall, and the opening of the new Chapel on 3rd November 1872 was greeted with much celebration.

However, all did not go smoothly. A calamitous freak storm tore the roof off the building along with some of the stone and brickwork. The insurance cover did not allow for claims due to storm damage.

The stone in the front wall above the entrance to the Chapel reads: 

Primitive Methodist Bourne Memorial chapel built 1872 rebuilt 1873

Non-conformist

There were nonconformist congregations in Sydenham by 1804. A Baptist chapel was built in 1825 and a rival second one in 1844. One of the Baptist chapels closed in about 1855, but by 1864 the other was still going as a Particular Baptist chapel. It was rebuilt as Ebenezer Chapel in 1881 and a Sunday school was added in 1883. It was still open in 1920 but had closed by 1932 and was sold in 1936. Its owner leased the chapel to a Methodist congregation from 1949 and sold it to them in 1957. In 1958 it was a member of the Thame and Watlington Methodist Circuit, but it has since closed and is now a private house.

Sydenham had a Primitive Methodist chapel by 1866. It was still open in 1910, but no subsequent record of it is known.