Stevington (Steventon) Primitive Methodist Chapel

1863-1957

Keith Guyler, 2000
Tim Banks, 2014
Tim Banks, 2014

The Chapel was built in 1863, although Primitive Methodists had been meeting in people’s homes since before 1851. In that year they were holding services in a room in the home of William Wilcox, of Duck End. About 30 people came in the morning and about 60 in the evening. Perhaps  Thomas White had a larger house, as the following year the services moved to his house.

You can find out more about the Chapel, and people associated with it by clicking here.

There’s an account in the Primitive Methodist magazine of 1864 of the laying of the foundation stone and subsequent opening of what it calls Steventon Primitive Methodist chapel in the Bedford circuit – but it’s the same chapel.

“Chapel Opening, Steventon, Bedford Station. —We have sustained religious services in this village for more than twenty years, and have a steady society of twenty- lour members. In cottages and in the open air we have been able to preach the gospel to many of the inhabitants, and some striking cases of conversion to God have occurred from time to time. The need of a chapel has long been felt.

The foundation stone was laid Sept 28th, and the chapel was opened Nov. 22nd and 23rd, 1863. It is a neat, comfortable, and substantial structure. It will cost about £230. We have raised upwards of £60, and hope to reduce the debt to £100.

The Revs. W. Antliff and E. Bishop preached on the occasion of the opening, and T. Herbert Barker, Esq., M.D., of Bedford, presided at the public meeting on the Monday evening. The people in the congregations were literally crammed together. May the house be perpetually filled with the Divine presence. Amen. E. Bishop.”

Reference

Primitive Methodist magazine of 1864 page 118

 

 

Comments about this page

  • I’ve added an account from the Primitive Methodist magazine of 1864 of the laying of the foundation stone and subsequent opening of what it calls Steventon Primitive Methodist chapel in the Bedford circuit – but it’s the same chapel.

    By Christopher Hill (03/12/2019)
  • For many years, the former Stevington PM chapel was used by Robert Shaftoe organ builder. Now in 2014 a new business is using these premises

    By Tim Banks (18/06/2014)

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.