Sheffield Fifth Circuit, Yorkshire

Sheffield Hodgson Street Primitive Methodist school chapel
Christian Messenger 1899/273
Sheffield John Street Primitive Methodist school chapel
Christian Messenger 1899/273

Transcription of Article in the Christian Messenger by ‘ALPHA’

The enterprising zeal of our people during the last twenty years in the city of Sheffield has been and still is a distinction and example. The aggressive work carried on in a generous, hard-working, and thoroughly religious spirit is worthy of the best traditions of our Church. By the earnest evangelistic labours of Primitive Methodism, the great centre of the cutlery industry has been influenced and blessed in a remarkable manner. Results have been achieved which reflect credit on all who have interested themselves in the prosperity of our Zion. In every department of spiritual work there has been cheering success. If material, numerical, and spiritual results are the fruit of sanctified effort, nowhere is it more truly manifest than in the city of Sheffield in our own Church. Few, if any of the great centres of industry have done more with greater success, in chapel and school building, the formation of new circuits, evangelistic work, deep and practical interest in the support of mission work at home and abroad, earnest care for the moral and spiritual welfare of young people and the general wellbeing of all. Personal consecration, earnest attention to the means of grace, generous liberality and right down hard work have contributed to the success achieved. A people thus devoted to God know their need of, and absolute dependence on, the mighty force and regenerating power of the spirit of God. It was very interesting to hear one of the young, but able officials, say in the quarterly meeting in relation to the most prosperous business man in the city in our denomination, that ‘It was a delight to find one who, while so prosperous in material things, could yet take such pleasure in a good rousing prayer meeting.’

Strange as it may seem, the very success achieved has created difficulty which it would be impolitic to ignore or allow to remain an existing weakness and ever-increasing difficulty. The new centres of life, strength and action will do well to carefully consider what can be done to arrest decay and promote beneficial results at the old centres of operation where, in by-gone days, such grand spiritual battles were fought and rare victories won in the interests of humanity and the glory of God. An intelligent Christian spirit cannot be indifferent to the weakness and decay of any church, occasioned in some degree by supplying and feeding rising new interests. Those who stand by the old cause often find it a painful experience to see the church of their youth and the strength of their manhood decay, while new ones are originated, and grow with rapid increase into powerful and influential centres of new life, action and attraction. The experience is painful, not because the new ones rise in strength and influence, but because the home in which the best in them was born and nurtured, now seems almost forsaken. The question is urgent and important – How to create new centres of Christian activity, and at the same time support and keep old ones in a prosperous condition? Urgent and important as it is, it is beset with great difficulty, as great as the perplexed question of ‘How to retain our elder scholars in the Church?’

The problem in either case will not be solved by resorting to any artificial means, or by bringing the maxims and customs of the world into the Church. The Church’s only hope is in personal holiness, real intelligent work, and the regenerating and uplifting presence of the Spirit of God. Whatever may be the difficulties and causes for discouragement, let us not forget there is ample room for gratitude and encouragement for every Primitive Methodist in the city of Sheffield. This one fact is a sufficient proof, viz., that there are 900 more members to-day than there were twenty years ago, and results in other respects are equally great.

The chief cause of the growth of Primitive Methodism in Sheffield, may be found in the evangelistic labours put forth on the South side of the town which embraces John Street, Anns Road, and Abbydale Circuits. About three decades have passed since Henry Adams and John Hutton were commissioned by Cambridge Street church, (then Coal Pit Lane), to mission this part of the town. They began operations in the street, held the first class meeting in Bro. Hutton’s house in the month of September, 1863, and in the following year they took an old paint-shop over a stable in Hereford Street, in which to hold regular evangelistic services and public worship. This would not have been in any way strange had it been in the country, but in a great town there was a little peculiarity in it. The old paint-shop was ugly enough, dirty, difficult to approach and uninviting, but it has been well said, ‘love’s labour brightens them up, cleans them, whitens dirty walls, scrapes the seats, mends broken windows, tidies up the approach to them, covers bare walls with climbing plants, sets shrubs and flowers and makes them look as they should, the property of a king.’ To clean and beautify this place was difficult indeed, but the men who had the matter in hand were not easily baffled or hindered in any kind of work for God.

Whatever disadvantage there was associated with the place occupied, the compensation was great in the Christian character, fervent zeal, evangelistic spirit, and fitness for the work in the little group who found their brightest pleasure and service of life there. Many are the hallowed memories of the old paint-shop, and the fruit of those days continues until now, and results far-reaching are seen in vigorous churches which have sprung up in the neighbourhood. It is a pleasing feature to find the spirit of evangelism which characterised the pioneers still lives in the church of to-day. Sunday by Sunday, and during the week as well, open-air services are held and real aggressive Christian work is done.

The site secured on which John-street chapel, school, and institute are built was anything but inviting. It was an old stone-quarry, but it has proved to be most convenient and suitable. It was during the Superintendence of the late and much respected Rev. J. Dickenson the chapel was erected. The enterprise was great, but events had more than justified the undertaking. The structure rests upon nine massive brick arches buried many feet below the street level. The original cost was £4,170; the debt when finished, £1,730. The present debt is £1,100, which we hope to raise by a bazaar in the November of this year. The chapel will seat about 700 people, and it is a commodious and now beautifully decorated place of worship. Additions have been made; the latest is by far the most important – the new Institute with suitable rooms, elaborately furnished in the newest style, and with the chapel and school illuminated with electric light. The cost of these improvements was over £3,000. From the autumn of 1897 to the spring of 1899, by the generous help of Mr. H. Adams, the entire sum was raised. The church, school, and Institute are now working to clear the remaining debt of £1,100 in November. The realisation of this object would make it easy for the church to sustain and keep healthy its funds, and cope with the requirements of rapidly-growing districts within the area of the station.

The Conference held in Grimsby in June sanctioned the division of the circuit. Sheffield Fifth will consist now of John-street and Hodgson-street, with one travelling preacher, and twenty-five local preachers. John-street has 280 members, and an income of £48 per quarter. We have in the Sunday school 719 scholars, with a teaching staff of 71. Church members in the school under fourteen years of age, 228; and above fourteen there are 181. Band of Hope juvenile abstainers 280, adult abstainers 260. A healthy and prosperous Institute, a penny savings bank, reading-room, library, church and school benevolent fund, and a very active evangelistic band of workers. The membership of Hodgson-street is 68, the income £8 per quarter, scholars in the Sunday school 199, teachers 27. Members under fourteen years of age 30, members above fourteen, eight. Juvenile abstainers 119, adult abstainers 54. This school-chapel is situated in the midst of a densely-populated neighbourhood, and requires special attention, which it is expected will be given under the new arrangements. In addition to the minister, Mr. J.J. Hodson, B.A., and Miss Hirst, the daughter of the late Rev. J. Hirst, are to serve the circuit for twelve months; therefore we hope the future of Hodgson-street will be bright and prosperous.

The persons whose photos we here give have an honourable record. They have served the church for many years and are to-day deeply interested in its prosperity. It is to Mr. H Adams, who for more than thirty years has been the chief moving spirit on the south side of Sheffield in everything that affected Primitive Methodism, while loyally supported by a band of earnest, godly workers – it is to him most of all we are indebted for our place and power as a Christian church. One of his last acts of concern and interest in the Connexion has been to secure, near his own home, an eligible site of land for another chapel and school where the population is increasing by thousands, and where very soon there would have been no land to obtain. It would have been unfortunate indeed for John-street to have been shut out; as it is the land is in readiness whenever the circuit is able to open a mission in that district.

The two new circuits, Ann’s-road and Abbydale, we hope to consider in the near future.

We could draw many deductions from the facts we have had under consideration. Personal character, hard work, large-hearted liberality in every station of life, earnest attention to the means of grace, and withal entire dependence upon the Spirit of God for success in the work, are among the essentials of a happy and prosperous people.

References

Christian Messenger 1899/273

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