Thornhill Edge Primitive Methodist chapel

The laying of the foundation stone for Thornhill Edge Primitive Methodist chapel in the Wakefield circuit is described by Henry Crabtree in the Primitive Methodist magazine of 1861. The ceremony took place on November 3rd 1860.

Stephen Seal, Esq. of Sandal, near Wakefield, laid the stone. Preachers at the celebrations included Rev S Oddie (Ossett – Congregationalist),  Mr. J. Eastwood, of Horbury, Revs. H. Crabtree, J. Ayrton, and J.Buckley, and Messrs. J. Turner, W. Quarmby, J. Ulingworth, and J. Naylor.

An article in the 1918 Christian Messenger tells us a bit more about Thornhill Edge in the Horbury circuit. “Thornhill Edge Chapel and School are the oldest in the circuit. The school was built in 1861, and the chapel in 1872, the total cost being £1,350, and the remaining debt is only £41. Several years ago the church suffered a very heavy loss by a colliery disaster which took place at Thornhill, when several of the leading workers lost their lives, but the church has bravely struggled on, and through the devoted labours of many noble women who have been connected with it and rendered splendid service, there are the signs of better days. One of these women is the President of the Christian Endeavour Society, which is doing a very good work, and several are on the Chapel Committee, and they are to the front in arranging the efforts for the Trust Funds. The Chapel and Pipe Organ has recently been renovated and beautified at a considerable cost which has been generously borne by the Colliery Proprietor in the neighbourhood, and the outlook here is hopeful.”

A Methodist chapel is shown on the northern side of Edge Road with the Sunday School on the opposite side of the road on the Ordnance Survey map of 1892-3, although it is not actually labelled Primitive Methodist until the 1919 map. Both buildings are still labelled in 1961.

On Google Street view, there are new houses on the sites of both buildings in October 2008

Reference

Primitive Methodist magazine February 1861 page 119

Christian Messenger 1918/296