Browney Lane Primitive Methodist chapel, Meadowfield

Browney Lane Browney DURHAM DH7 8HU

Meadowfield (Browney Lane) Primitive Methodist chapel
Keith Guyler 1998

Browney Lane Primitive Methodist Church opened in 1929.  It replaced the former Browney Primitive Methodist chapel which was closed in 1928.

The reason for the move may be illustrated in a funeral report from the Teesdale Mercury of Wednesday, February 17th, 1926

“The Late Mr “Dick” Walker.

It was  with deep regret that the many friends of Mr Richard Walker, jun., son of Mr John Richard Walker, for many years the village smith of Cotherstone, heard last week of his sudden death at the early age of 34 years. It is more than 16 years since “Dick,” as all who knew him affectionately called him, left Cotherstone, his native village, to take up work at Browney Colliery, where everyone who knew him respected him for his genial ways and happy nature . He died most suddenly on Thursday, February 4th , an d was buried at the Meadowfield Cemetery on Sunday, February 7th. The funeral was so largely attended that the Browney Primitive Methodist Church could not hold all the mourners. The underbearers were some of his fellow-blacksmiths at Browney and the floral tributes were many and beautiful. Mr Walker leaves a widow and young son. Heartfelt sympathy has been shown with them and his father, brothers and sisters, and also with Mr and Mrs Davison, his wife’s parents, at whose house he died.”

Browney Lane chapel is now a house.

Comments about this page

  • Thank you for taking the time to give me the details of the chapels . I used to live in meadowfieid and have vague recollection that I was baptised in one of those chapels around 1945 onwards. I am interested in trying to find any records of that time.
    Thank you

    By Hazel Carr (04/07/2022)
  • Hazel – The 1939 Ordnance Survey map shows two chapels to the east of what it calls Office Street (the parallel roads are labelled Front Street, Middle Street and Office Street). One is labelled Methodist church and the other Independent church; they stand next to each other.

    The Methodist church is a former Wesleyan Methodist chapel; it is there on the 1895 map. The Independent chapel is labelled Christian Lay church. At that time there was also a Primitive Methodist chapel only yards away to the east (towards what was then allotments) – this Prim chapel was the one that was closed when the new Prim chapel was opened in 1928. Presumably all three built so close together because the land was available.

    The whole area has been cleared.

    By Christopher Hill (04/07/2022)
  • The one I am trying to find was one at the back of Back Street (Front ,Middle, Back streets facing each other) .
    My grandparents lived in back street and I was sure there was a chapel across from the back of their house. Maybe it was my imagination but it seem to stick n my mind. Thank you.

    By Hazel Carr (04/07/2022)
  • Was there a chapel in Browney behind Back Street in 1945 onwards. Near the pit.?

    By Hazel carr (03/07/2022)

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