John Welford, of Barlestone, has provided a picture of the Barlestone ex-PM Chapel. The picture was taken in 2012 when the chapel was still open. It has been closed for at least two years and the future of the building is uncertain.
Barlestone Primitive Methodist chapel was built in 1833, with 80 free and 30 other sittings. There was just one service on Sunday 30 March 1851, in the evening, when 64 people attended.
(added by CH) The Primitive Methodist magazine of July 1857 contains an account by James West of the re-opening of Barlestone Primitive Methodist chapel after “a thorough renovation.” Re-opening services were held on April 12th 1857, although “the congregations were not so large as were expected”.
A public tea meeting was held the next day attended by “a goodly number sat around the festive board” despite unfavourable weather. “Lively and spirited sermons” were preached by J Hunt, R Price, C Wood, Rev T Roberts and Rev J Wilkinson.
References
Leicestershire History website
The Primitive Methodist magazine July 1857 p.431
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This chapel was in the Earl Shilton circuit and then the Hinckley Primitive Methodist Circuit. It is thought that the owner of the adjacent house gave the land for the chapel.
A circuit document describes it:
“Barlestone the Outpost! On the edge of the circuit. What memories it conjures up in the minds of some of us. It’s Camp Meetings commencing as they did as 9.00am and continuing till 8pm. Its lovefeasts when members were pleased to testify to their Lord and to give their experiences in such telling ways; its singing always so hearty; it’s Prayer Meetings, never dull. Oh, how one heaves a sigh and looks for a return of those gracious days .But everything has changed, and new conditions still demand our best , but Barlestone is still an outpost duty, still out of the main stream and influence of the circuit, but Barlestone is still holding her post.”
In 1940 the accommodation consisted of a chapel measuring 42 feet by 21 feet and seating 150 persons on a mixture of pews and forms and a schoolroom 21 feet square.
Sources
John Rylands Library University of Manchester, DDPD1 Methodist Church Buildings: Statistical returns including seating accommodation as at July 1st 1940/692 (Hinckley, Albert Road, Circuit)
NB the reference to a site visit in my previous comment was made in error
Barlestone Primitive Methodist Chapel was built of brick in 1832/3 and a school added in 1884. By 1910 £625 had been spent on the buildings. A further £48 had been spent by 1932. From 1910 to 1932 the chapel seated 220 but by 1940 this had been reduced to 150 persons in pews and there was one schoolroom and no other rooms. (Sources: Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Record Office N/M/142/92; Methodist Accommodation returns, 1940 p163; Site Visit 9.8.2018).
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