Scarborough Jubilee Primitive Methodist chapel
Aberdeen Walk Scarborough YO11 1XP
Scarborough Jubilee Primitive Methodist chapel in Aberdeen Walk dates from 1861, in a period when the town – and the number of Methodists in it – grew very rapidly. In the 1860s 5 new Methodist chapels of one brand or another were opened.
Jubilee chapel was designed by William Baldwin Stewart who contributed many buildings to Victorian Scarborough, including the North Sea Bathing Infirmary on the Foreshore. It must have been spectacular; it accommodated 1,140 and boasted lighting by a corona lamp containing 80 gas jets.
It was completely demolished in 1966 and replaced first by a supermarket, then by Scarborough’s Job Centre and on Street View in 2015 it is vacant.
The ceremony to lay the foundation stone is recorded in great detail by HC in the Primitive Methodist magazine.
“(On Friday, July 20th, 1860) the foundation-stone of their new chapel, in Aberdeen Walk, was laid by William Hodge, Esq., of Hull. The weather was exceedingly unfavourable ; the rain falling in torrents during the whole of the time occupied by the proceedings. The ceremony was necessarily brief, singing and prayer, with a few words from Mr. Hodge, sufficed to complete, the service, and the company retired.”
At the following meeting in the Town Hall, H Campbell having taken the chair, apologised for the absence of the Sheriff of Hull. This is the second Prim ceremony I’ve come across recently where he failed to attend, but in each case he sent a decent donation which was (possibly) more welcome.
Speakers were Revs. G. West and Messrs. T. Whittaker, T. Greenbury and W. Briggs, Esq.
The opening is recorded by Thomas Greenbury. The highly decorated building seated 1,140, boasted vestries, caretaker’s accommodation, classrooms, a large schoolroom for 300 and a tower with an easy staircase to the gallery. It cost £3,000.
The architect and project manager was W. B. Stewart, Esq., of Scarborough. Speakers at the opening from April 24th 1861 included W. Briggs. Esq., Messrs. W. Garner, R. Balgarnie, (Independent,) T. Greenbury, G.West, P. Newton, R. S. Blair and Rev.W.Jackson.
Reference
Primitive Methodist magazine November 1860 page 690-691
Primitive Methodist magazine September 1861 pages 554-555
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I made my first teenage steps as an organist at Jubilee where I experimented before starting proper disciplined organ lessons from the organist at the Queen St Methodist Central Hall, Scarborough. I think the organ was sold after closure and went down south. When I was a boy, the organist there for many years was Willoughby Raine, composer of some hymn tunes. I had unlimited organ access as my uncle was property steward there, and was responsible for the dispersal of all the contents on closure. I still have the oak hymn book cupboard which stood in the porch at the top of the entrance steps.
So different a building to the small country chapels, which were often one room and where a wooden floor was something to be commented on.
Primitive Methodists were not discouraged by torrential rain! – see the added information here.
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