Burnley Bethel Primitive Methodist chapel

Hammerton Street, Burnley, BB11 1LT

Burnley Bethel Primitive Methodist chapel alongside the New White Horse pub pictured in March 1979
With permission from Burnley Civic Trust Heritage Image Collection
With permission from Burnley Civic Trust Heritage Image Collection

The Primitive Methodist magazine for September 1852 contains an account by Thomas Crompton of the opening of Burnley Primitive Methodist chapel.

The society had existed since the early 1820s and in 1833 a small chapel in Curzon Street was built.  It was later enlarged by the addition of a gallery to seat 400, but the society and Sunday school outgrew it and in 1851 they determined to build a new chapel.

They were very active and successful in raising the funds and a start was made on a sizeable chapel in Hammerton Street capable of holding over 1,000 people.  It measured 57′ x 48.33′, with a front of “Grecian architecture, beautifully chaste.”  The inscribed stone said “Bethel, Primitive Methodist 1852. There is a mass of detail in Mr Crompton’s account.

Opening services started from June 24th 1852.  Preachers included AF Beckerlegge, W Antliff, G Lamb, B Firth, T Dearlove and Mr Crompton himself. The overall cost was around £2,100 of which around half had been raised. Special thanks went to Mr Dearlove (although we don’t know why exactly).

The chapel was ambitious but clearly was a matter of pride.  “It has excited surprise that the Primitive Methodists of Burnley have erected such an edifice”

On Methodist union in 1932 the chapel closed and the building was sold to the Christian Science Church. It was demolished in 1976.

Thanks to Burnley Civic Trust Heritage Image Collection for permission to use the pictures by The Burnley Express. www.bcthic.org View Archive. Burnley Civic Trust Heritage Image Collection (bcthic.org)

Reference

location: SD 839325

Primitive Methodist magazine September 1852 pp. 557-559

 

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.