Allenheads (Bethel) Primitive Methodist Chapel Allendale Northumberland

This building sits behind the chape. A local man says this is the remains of the first chapel to be built here.

Chapels of the Allendale circuit 1912

Christian Messenger 1912/28

Allenheads: Return from the Primitive Methodist chapel in the 1851 Census of Places of Public Religious Worship

transcribed by David Tonks

Allenheads Primitive Methodist chapel

provided by Mark Graham

This was a very large chapel built in a time when the population of this area was much greater. Now we look at it and say ‘Why ever did the ‘Prims’ erect such a large place for worship?’  The plaque unfortunately is un-readable.

It closed in 1952. It was used by the YHA and by 2015 it has become an outdoor  education centre – Allenheads Lodge.

Photos taken August 2015

OS Map Ref:87:NY853461

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Allenheads was first served by a chapel opened on August 28th 1841. The occasion is described in the Primitive Methodist magazine of August 1841 by J Moore. It is transcribed by David Tonks in the attached document.

Names mentioned include W. Lonsdale (Bradford); J. Burroughs and Bro. Wilson (Superintendent).  The chapel was converted from three dwelling-houses. Was this in the same location – the hamlet of Dirt Pot – as the 1848 chapel in the light of the comment about the building at the rear of the 1848 chapel?

(added by CH Sept 2017)

The 1841 chapel was soon not big enough  so in 1848 the society asked the agents of TW Beaumont Esq  for a bigger site which was granted.  The new chapel, measuring 33′ x 30′ inside, was opened on July 1st 1849. Opening preachers included  CC McKechnie (Sunderland) and W Sanderson (Doncaster) J Wilson wrote the account.

(added by CH April 2022)

Reference

Primitive Methodist magazine of August 1841 pp.339-340

Primitive Methodist magazine 1849 page 564