Maryport, Kirby Street Primitive Methodist Chapels, Cumberland

Maryport, Kirby Street PM (i) Chapel, Cumberland

Maryport chapel was built in 1839 at a cost of £316.7.10. In 1851 there were 154 free and 126 other sittings

Sources

The National Archives HO129/570/4/16 1851 census of religious worship
DFCM2/145                                               

Maryport Kirby Street  PM (ii) Chapel, Cumberland

Kirby Street Chapel & school were built of stone in 1871 at a cost of £1059.8.6. There were 242 lettable and 62 free sittings. In 1940 there were 320 sittings in pews and one other room. The chapel closed in 1973 when St Marks opened. In 2014 the site was in residential use.

Sources

Cumbria Archive Service, Carlisle, DFCM2/112, 113, 145
Carlisle Library, 1A287, Methodist Property Statistics 1940

Additional information on the 1839 chapel (CH 02/2024)

In the 1840 Primitive Methodist magazine, J Burroughs tells us about the story of the opening of the 1839 chapel:

Maryport is a pleasant seaport and market town in the county of Cumberland. which contains about five thousand inhabitants. It was visited by the P. Methodists several years ago; but sin, prejudice, and the devil, prevailed and they gave it up. They entered it again about seven years since and made another attack upon the enemy But his bulwarks were so strong  that be set them at defiance for a while. But on Sunday, August 12, 1838, a Camp meeting was held, which gave him a mighty blow; his strongholds were shaken and some grand entries were made into his territories.  It was a day long to be remembered by many.

A schoolroom was rented to preach in but it soon became too small; and like David, the people soon began to think about building a house for the mighty God of  Jacob. The plans were laid, trustees were chosen and a system of begging commenced on August 22 1839.  I laid the foundation stone and preached a sermon in the open air, from “Behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua.”

There a large concourse of peoples who manifested their approbation by their good wishes and a liberal collection.  The chapel stand in a good situation, is built of stone, and  covered with slate; it has four gothic windows  and is well fitted up with glass; and it has a neat palisading  in the front, with five steps up to the door. . It is thirty seven feet by thirty-one. will seat about three hundred and thirty people; there are one hundred and forty sittings. about ninety of which are let.  

This chapel was opened for divine worship on Sunday, Dec. 8, 1839 ; the Baptist minister, Mr. Anderson, and the Presbyterian minister, Mr. Bookless, kindly assisted us on the occasion. The congregations and collections were good, and good was done. The whole cost of the chapel is about three hundred and fourteen pounds. About eighty-four pounds including the opening services, has been begged. It is to be settled on the Connexion as soon as possible.

A Sunday school has been commenced in the chapel, and its prospects are cheering. We have about fifty members in Mary Port, and a fine prospect of much good being done. In erecting this chapel the friends have struggled hard. May the good Lord reward them a hundred-fold; and in the chapel may many precious souls be born for glory. Amen, and amen.

Primitive Methodist magazine 1840 page 408-409