Crab Tree Green (Crabtree Green) Primitive Methodist chapel Denbighshire

Crabtree Green, Wrexham LL13 0YG

former Stryt-yr-hwch chapel - the new home of the Calvinist Methodists from Crabtree Green when the Primitive Methodists took over their old chapel
David Young 2021
Crabtree Green PM chapel

An 1857 Plan mentions services at a chapel in Crab Tree Green, Denbighshire, in the Wrexham Circuit. A quick search of the digitised “Wrexham Advertiser”, which has been digitised only up to 1900, found a number of references, but there are probably a lot more for anyone who wishes to take the time to search for them. Harvest services are mentioned in a couple of them in the 1890s.

An interesting article, on page 6 of the issue of 26th June 1875, tells of what we must, I think, call a ‘camp meeting’. It was mounted by the people of the Primitive Methodist chapel, Crab Tree Green, the Calvinistic Methodists of Salem Chapel, Stryt-yr-Hwch, and the Independents (i.e. Congregationalists) of Ebenezer Chapel, Erbistock The morning open-air service, held in a field at Gyfelia, attracted 200 people; the afternoon and evening ones, at Crab Tree Green, drew 500. I have not been able to identify the preachers, who were J. Meredith of Rossett and Rev. James Williams of Chester.

The chapel stood at the bend in the lane at grid reference 335446. By 1912 it had disappeared from the Ordnance Survey maps.

Note added by CH Jan 2019:

The opening of Crabtree Green, Eaton (Eyton), Primitive Methodist chapel in the Wrexham Mission is described by W Sapcoat in the 1856 Primitive Methodist magazine.

“Eaton was the first place visited by the Primitive Methodist missionaries in this station near thirty years ago. Since then the society has passed through various trials incidental to cottage preaching. Of late, brothers E. Allen and P. Woodall have made us every accommodation that small cottages could afford, for which the society is grateful.

Within the last two years the Calvinistic Methodists have built a new chapel, and the one they did occupy became vacant. This chapel we have taken on rent. It was formerly let for £6 yearly, but through the kindness of the owner, it is let to our society for £2 per annum.

On Sunday, April 20th, 1856, W. Sapcoat preached three opening sermons to overflowing congregations; a good influence attended the word, and the collections exceeded our expectations. On the following day, an excellent public tea was provided, to which 140 persons sat down. A public meeting was held afterwards, which was addressed by Messrs. R. Davies, R. Hamner, S. Ellis, E. Jones, and W. Sapcoat.

The proceeds of these services have been applied to the fitting up of the chapel. These are the property of the Connexion, and the expenses were all met. To God be all the glory!“

The chapel is marked on the 1:2,500 Ordnance Survey map of 1899. By 1912, the building is still there but the label is gone. On Google Street View in 2009, the site is occupied by a small copse.

David Young adds detail to this Primitive Methodist magazine account:

The Primitive Methodist chapel at Crabtree Green was previously Salem Calvinistic Methodist chapel.  When the Primitive Methodists moved in, the Salem congregation moved to a chapel at Stryt-yr-hwch,  in 2021 a house shown in pink in the photo.

Reference

Primitive Methodist magazine July 1856 pp.443-444

Comments about this page

  • According to Sheard (Sheard, M. R. (1980). The Origins and early Development of Primitive Methodism in Cheshire and South Lancashire 1800-1860. Doctoral thesis University of Manchester) there is a report on the opening of the chapel at Crab Tree Green in the Primitive Methodist Magazine, 1856, pages 443-4).

    A Chester Plan for 1865 lists Eyton among the preaching places, along with several other places in Wales, but not Crab Tree Green, which was in the Wrexham Circuit.

    By David Young (08/08/2016)
  • The lady now living in The Hawthorns, a house that stands back in its own ground, said that 30 to 40 years ago there were three cottages in front of her house, one of a different shape from the others. This must have been the chapel. The Hawthorns is at the OS grid reference for the chapel.

    By David Young (04/08/2016)

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