Harringay Primitive Methodist chapel, originally known as Mattison Road, opened in 1891 as an tin tabernacle – a pre-fabricated timber framed structure clad with corrugated iron which could quickly be assembled from a kit.
The iron chapel was a mission of the Caledonian Road station in a rapidly growing area. Both the site and the building cost around £300 and the building was inaugurated by the laying of memorial stones on November 17th 1890. It would give opportunity for Sunday school work as well as worship.
This was replaced by the buildings in the picture in 1901. This was clearly necessary because in 1903 membership was so high that Mattison Road was described as the chief Primitive Methodist church in London. There’s a reflection on the value for money of the £4,500 cost in the 1901 magazine.
Originally part of the Caledonian Road circuit, it joined the Finsbury Park circuit after the Methodist union in 1932 until it closed in 1963.
The building is still there on Google Street View in May 2015 serving as a Roman Catholic church.
Reference
Primitive Methodist magazine 1891 January page 59
Primitive Methodist magazine 1901 April page 314
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The church, hall and manse now constitute Giuseppe Conlon House, run by the London Catholic Worker.
The 1897 magazine (page 153) tells us that “The Harringay church is making encouraging progress and will soon need the new and larger place of worship for which diligent preparation is being made so as to keep free from and burdensome debt.”
The 1899 Primitive Methodist magazine (page 718) tells us that “a satisfactory commencement has been made with new premises which will cost £4,000”
Was that this chapel? I would have expected it to cost more.
Mattison Road was attended by many of the leading Connexional officials
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