Sessay Primitive Methodist chapel

Low Lane, Little Hutton YO7 3BJ

In the 1856 Primitive Methodist magazine, John Simpson writes:

Sessay is a beautiful village about six miles south-east of Thirsk ; and with the exception of one small freehold, is the property of Lord Viscount Downe. In an out-township, the Wesleyans have long had a preaching room, and in a small cottage on the above-named freehold we have bad service for some years; but with these exceptions the inhabitants have had no place of religious worship but a church of questionable orthodoxy.

Some time ago, the owner of the said freehold, Mr. John Robinson, an aged disciple connected with the Wesleyan association of Darlington, made us an offer of a small site for a chapel, which we gratefully accepted ; and, after meeting many discouragements, and grappling with numerous difficulties, arising from high-church opposition, we succeeded, through God’s blessing, in erecting a beautiful chapel, capable of accommodating 100 persons.

It was set apart to its sacred purpose on Lord’s day, October 5th and 12th, 1856 ; on which occasions Mr. J. Dawson, superintendent of Brompton circuit, and Mr. Thomas Dawson, one of our own local preachers, delivered edifying and useful sermons; and on Tuesday evening, the 14th, we had an interesting tea-party ; and a public meeting, presided over by the last-named brother, and ad dressed by Mr. Robinson, Mr. Thomas Yeates, of Thirsk, and the writer.

Though we have realized considerably more than one-third of the entire cost of the building, yet we have not succeeded to our desires in respect of finances, owing to the unfavourable circumstances previously named; still the trustees mean to plod on till the debt shall be an easy one. Our gratitude is due to the giver of the land: to Mr. Thomas Yeates for a donation of £10, £5 of which belonged to his deceased boy, whose maternal grandparents lie in Sessay church-yard; and to numerous other friends for their gifts of labour and money. May showers of blessings come down upon this Zion ! Amen.

Zion is still marked as a Methodist chapel on the 1:2,500 Ordnance Survey map of 1978. On Google Street View by 2011 it has been converted into a house, but still retains its date stone.

Reference

Primitive Methodist magazine December 1856 pp.743-744

 

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