Wesleyan Society Methodist Church

Edwinstowe Wesleyan Methodist Chapel

The first record of Wesleyan Methodists in Edwinstowe is in the Dissenters Registration for September 1796 when members met at the home of Thomas Woodward. (They met in 1801 at William Ward’s, in 1803 at Dennis Brett’s and in 1804 “in a Chapel” on East Lane.)

In 1802, 25 villages in the southern part of the Epworth Circuit formed a new Circuit based around Retford with a total membership of 361. In 1816, twelve members met for a regular weekly service in Edwinstowe. (Retford Library holds lists of members-1803-1835 and B.J. Biggs’ study of Methodism in a Rural Society, North Nottinghamshire1740-1851. Thanks to the staff of Inspire: Culture, Learning & Libraries for their help).

Although some of the earliest records are missing, we know that there were constant changes in the organisation of the Circuit with fluctuating membership 670 in 1813; 496 in 1816 (when some villages transferred to Gainsborough Circuit and others to Worksop.) In 1804, there were 2 or 3 ministers. In 1813, they had to cover 27 preaching places within an area of 50 square miles. If they were lucky they had the use of a pony or might be offered a ride in a cart. Even in 1823, when numbers rose to 820 there were still only 2 ministers.

A network of Wesleyan Local Preachers grew up. Each new candidate was considered, if approved he became an ‘exhorter’ taking services, but not preaching sermons. If successful he was then allowed to preach ‘on trial’. If he passed his exams his name was added to the ‘Full Plan’ at the bottom of the list. His conduct both in the chapel and in daily life was scrutinised. The worst offence was ‘neglect of preaching’, but personal and professional misconduct could include debt, drunkenness, working on a Sunday, opening an alehouse, marrying an unsuitable wife, assault and playing cricket in public!

Advice to preachers included: Always conclude the service in about an hour; Never scream; Never lean upon, or beat the Bible; Do not, without the utmost necessity go home at night.

Charles Richardson, “the Lincolnshire Thrasher” who was much in demand for opening chapels preached twice in Edwinstowe around 1844.

Nottingham Review reports that on Tuesday October 12th 1847 the Foundation Stone was laid for a splendid new Chapel which opened the following year at the top of the High Street (‘Town Street’). An impressive flight of steps led up to the front doors. It was described as ‘the most stately and imposing of all in the (Worksop) Circuit.’ The estimated cost of completion was £600. The founding trustees were almost all from Eakring. In the circuit there were 22 local preachers; 35 local leaders; 588 members and 53 members at Edwinstowe.

“The sun shone in a cloudless sky. …..Great numbers from the surrounding neighbourhood availed themselves of the pleasure of being present on the joyful occasion. The assembling together took place at the old chapel at two in the afternoon. After singing a portion of a hymn, a procession formed, headed by the Rev. F. Slight (donor of the land for the chapel)  …with the trustees of the chapel: and then the ladies who had assembled to grace the procession, who were succeeded by gentlemen, two by two. The order of the procession being completed, the company commenced singing and marched along the village to the spot where all things were prepared for the interesting ceremony.” The Master Workman placed a bottle containing a parchment in an aperture. Then C.H. Clarke of Nottingham laid the foundation stone…and “delivered an eloquent and soul-stirring address on the importance of erecting such temples for the Lord, where His ambassadors may unfold to perishing sinners the blessings of the gospel of Christ. He had been viewing with admiration the fine scathed and tempest riven oaks in the Hays of Birkland and Bilhagh, and had been inside one of them, reflecting on their far-famed utility to the navy of our country, which was termed the bulwarks of our land; but he was of a contrary opinion relative to the security of our nation; buildings for purposes of instruction….could with more propriety be called the bulwarks of our land, in so much as the true principles of peace and concord, religion and piety, and love to all conditions of men, were taught in them.”

The company retired to a spacious tent where around 200 were regaled with tea and seventeen trays of plumcake. “During tea, a neat model of the intended new chapel, executed by Mr. Simpson the architect” was displayed.  “After tea the company repaired to the old chapel” for a hymn and prayers – the speakers included Mr. Christopher Thomson of Edwinstowe.

A list in Retford Library names the Trustees in 1854, as Rev. Frederick Slight (Ashbourne), John Watson (Bilsthorpe), William Herrod (Eakring) and Edwinstowe men – Henry Day (Cordwainer), George Webster and John Sidda (Farmers), George Page (Labourer), George Brooks (Carpenter), James Allsop (Blacksmith) and Benjamin Norman (Bailiff).

Wesleyan attendance figures from the Religious Census of 1851 were 60+58 (afternoon), 122 (evening). Both Primitive and Wesleyan Methodist chapels had well-attended evening services thanks to artificial lighting, although in the Wesleyan Chapel the ‘naptha’ lights were condemned mid-sermon by a preacher as ‘hissing, stinking lamps’ ! These were replaced by paraffin lamps first used in 1883 at the Harvest Festival. (The Story of a Forest Village M.J. Jackson) In 1929, Bolsover Colliery Company granted electric power for lighting the Chapel at the reduced rate of 3 pence per unit.

Chapel before Renovation

According to Minute books (Nottinghamshire Archives) by 1870 the Chapel Trustees were struggling to repay a debt of £200. In 1883 a Schoolroom was erected at a cost of £300.

In 1899, Edwinstowe was part of Worksop Circuit. Amongst the Trustees were Edwinstowe men Isaac and William Freeman, John Woodhead (wheelwright) and provision merchant Alexander Parnham (who ran a Temperance Hotel for the tourists in Birkland Lodge on the High Street.) Other Trustees came from as far away as March in Cambridgeshire, Worksop and South Anston near Sheffield.

According to the 1915 Plan of Worksop Wesleyan Methodist Circuit, Edwinstowe had 6 hours of services on alternate weeks by 2 local preachers-Chapman or Pearce, the other weeks were covered by 5 preachers-Boaler, J.Ward, Leggatt, W.Ward and Padley.

In 1907, the opening ceremony of a new Sunday School building was performed by Mrs S. Evans from Creswell.  A Reading Desk in the new schoolroom was dedicated to its maker, Mr John Woodhead, ‘’in memory of his good work, both in the House of Prayer and in his daily occupation” also “a craftsman of rare ability and steward of equal excellence.” The following year various Trustees each loaned £50 towards paying off outstanding debts.

Around this time, the Chapel was refurbished at the cost of £300 reopening in 1911. On 2nd August 1912, the London Gazette announced that Edwinstowe Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was registered for Solemnizing Marriages.

 Edwinstowe Methodist Church after Renovation

1960s Edwinstowe Methodist Church Harvest Festival

In the 1920’s, with the sinking of Thoresby Colliery the congregation increased. Until Nationalisation the chapel received £25 per annum from Bolsover Colliery Co.  A 1933 list of members alongside Edwinstowe Stationmaster, Alfred Neville and baker, Samuel Juby, includes miners, fitters, electricians and a blacksmith living on the avenues in the new Colliery village.

In 1939, a serious fire damaged the Chapel roof. The organ and floor were seriously water-damaged. It was finally decided to purchase a site and build a new church on West Lane. During the war all building was prohibited, so temporary roof-repairs were made and a second-hand organ was bought. In 1946, instead of building a new church, the existing church was repaired, re-opening in 1947. In 1958, at a cost of £1,350 the interior was improved with the addition of oak panelling from Brackenhurst House in the sanctuary. The organ was moved to the gallery increasing seating to 130 and a communion table donated by the choirmaster, Albert Annable, was installed.

Edwinstowe Church Decorations

“A church situated in the heart of the Sherwood Forest country has been transformed at a cost of £1400 in April this year church members did not have a penny towards the cost of alterations. When the Edwinstowe Methodist Church is reopened on Saturday with its new-look interior church officials will be within of their target The general chapel committee promised £125 A house to house collection and other money-raising efforts have been held but most of the money so far credited to the scheme has been promised by church members under a covenant scheme. The church was built in 1848. The decision for the alterations was made last year on the successful amalgamation of two Methodist societies in the village. Now decorated in light pastel shades of pink cream and blue with woodwork coloured to match old oak panelling with new electric lighting installations and glass swing doors. It will reopened and dedicated on Saturday. Mrs A W Goddard of Worksop will perform the opening and divine service is to be conducted by the Rev R L Blook.”

Nottingham Evening Post – Tuesday 21 October 1958

In 1967, at a cost of £2,189 an extension to the Schoolroom was built.

Eventually, having battled against wet-rot, dry-rot and woodworm infestations, the congregation decided to build a new Chapel costing £45,000 on their plot of land at the rear. When this opened 13th March, 1982, some of the Chapel fittings were transferred. The old Chapel was bought by baker, Peter Bentley. When the Bakery closed the Chapel stood empty for several years, but in 2017, the new owner planned to convert it into retail or business units. 2020 brings new changes as Smoke&Ice a contemporary fast casual dining restaurant will open soon.

Old Methodist Chapel “Captain Noah” n.dMethodist Church Garden Party

Silver Wedding of the parents’ of Sylvia Sergeant (centre) Mr and Mrs Dixon second row behind the little girl at the front. Headteachers at King Edwin Schools (Council School)

  • Methodist Wesley Guild Presentation to Mrs Dixon May 1978

                       

Rev. John Millnes

If visitors to Edwinstowe’s only Nonconformist place of worship, the Methodist Church in High Street, think in a few months’ time “Haven’t I seen something like this before” they may not be mistaken. For to Cambridge where they inspected Trinity Hall and Clare College dining halls and the Chapels of Jesus College and St Catherine’s College, this week, have been Rev. John Millns the Church’s, and others concerned with a £1,250 improvement scheme on which it is embarking, to get some ideas for the redecoration. Oak panelling from Brackenhurst Hall, Southwell is to be put up in the sanctuary, where for the first time there will be a Communion table – a gift of Mr Albert Annable who was choirmaster at the Church and went to live in retirement in Skegness a few months ago. To provide more room in the Chapel the organ is to be transferred to the gallery, and this will have the effect of increasing by about one-third the present seating accommodation of 180.

The Church’s membership is around about the 80 mark and they have given a magnificent send-off to the renovation fund by donating £350 pounds in little more than a month. The next step will be to organise a house- to- house collection. “We are hoping to get the whole scheme carried through this summer,” said Mr Millns.

To an Edwinstowe correspondent I am indebted for some interesting facts about the 110-year-old classical Regency style Church.

Recalling that some years ago a sum of £600 was raised by the local Methodists in six years he says optimistically: “Those old-timers have nothing on their present-day descendants who can be fully relied upon to give an equally good account of themselves in accomplishing their object in a few months. Edwinstowe Methodists have always had a reputation for virility, writes my correspondent, for although in nearby Budby, Carburton, and Norton the flame of Methodism had died out, it has continued to burn brightly in the village. At the beginning of the last century a humble dwelling in Back (East) Lane served as the Meeting Place and in 1844 its members sort permission to erect a new chapel. The present church in High Street has been described as the most stately and imposing of the 30 chapels in the Worksop Methodist Circuit. In the church’s school room is a reading desk which was made by John Woodhead – “a craftsman of rare ability and a steward of equal of equal excellence”

Edwinstowe, who Methodists Church has from the first been included in the Worksop Circuit- seven of the Circuits then 11 chapels were situated on the South side of the Forest-may now move into the remit of Mansfield Methodism.

 Cameo Column- Mansfield Chad Newspaper