Tadley Primitive Methodist chapel, Hampshire
Return from Tadley Primitive Methodist chapel in the 1851 Census of Places of Public Religious Worship
Provided by David Tonks
Tadley was on the Plan of the “Mitcheldever” Circuit in 1835, and was later transferred to the Reading Circuit. At the time of the 1851 Religious Census the Primitive Methodists were still meeting in a house; the census recorded 70 in attendance in the morning, and 91 in the evening.
The chapel was opened in 1859.
In 1870, when the Silchester Circuit was formed from Reading, Tadley became part of the new circuit.
The chapel has been demolished, and I have no photograph of it, but there is still a Methodist church in the village – or perhaps nowadays one should say town.
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Berkshire Record Office :
Hampshire, ref. D/MS99. Tadley, Primitive Methodist with Sunday School ( later Tadley Main Road Methodist Church ), built 1859, a new build in 1931.
Documents from c.1892.
Society formation 1834-5.
I’ve added the return from the 1851 census of Places of Public Religious Worship. It includes a by H Duke, the Registrar, that “The enumerator does not consider this as a Place of Public Worship, it being a private dwelling only where meetings are occasionally held for Prayer – He did not therefore notice it in any way but this paper was sent him”
The Primitive Methodist magazine (October 1859 page 629) gives more detail of the chapel opening in an account by P Coates. The foundation stone was laid on April 29 1859 when Rev Toulson (Reading) laid the first stone and gave an address, as did S Rouse (Mansfield). The opening ceremonies took place from 24th July 1859 when Rev Harland (London) preached. At the following day’s tea meeting speakers included Revs R Thompson, J Gold, W Cook, W Pierce (sic), J Peirce (sic), T Kimber and P Coates.
The new chapel measured 26′ x 24′ and at that time was in the Silchester Branch of the Reading circuit.
The chapel was not demolished it is now a house next door to the chapel built in the 1930’s. So say elderly congregation members. This is more obvious from the rear.
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