IN the Primitive Methodist magazine for October 1852 James Pritchard reports that corner-stone of the Primitive Methodist new chapel and school room, Gooch Street, Birmingham, was laid on Monday, August 23rd, 1852.
Rev. Mr. Cheadle, General Baptist minister, offered a prayer and the stone was then laid by John Ratcliffe The Rev. Brewin Grant, M.A., Independent minister of Highbury Chapel in this town, and editor of “ The Bible and the People,” preached a sermon, the detail of which can be seen in the magazine. It gives a clear picture of the purpose of Primitive Methodism – to bring the gospel to “the common people”
The same day, above three hundred persons took tea within the walls of the school-room, which were covered with a spacious tent erected for the occasion. After tea a public meeting was held. The chair was occupied by Edward Heeley, Esq.
Gooch Street chapel was replaced by Bristol Hall on Bristol Street in 1899. It comprised a lecture hall, a mission hall, five classrooms and other rooms. It in turn was closed in 1928.
I am unable to find the precise location of the chapel and Bristol Hall. Can anyone help?
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The exact location was on the corner of Kent St (thus now in Gooch St North). Kelly’s Post Office Directory of Birmingham 1867 street directory on p. 45 gives the details (conveniently next to Kent St), the Minister was Rev. Philip Pugh (and it looks as though he lived next-door in Gooch St). I was in Birmingham yesterday so went to check it out – no sign of it now, car parks on one side of the junction and newer buildings on the other.
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