Warden Primitive Methodist chapel

Warden Primitive Methodist chapel in the Sheerness mission opened on December 12th 1861.  Reuben Barron contributed an article to the Primitive Methodist magazine about it.

“Warden, Sheerness Mission.—Dear Editor,—Warden is a small village in the Isle of Sheppey, about eight miles from Sheerness. It is pleasantly situated on the coast of the south channel, and is surrounded by charming scenery. Its little antique church, standing only about five rods from the edge of the cliff—its large land slips— the many and curiously constructed fossils washed out of the earth, and left bare by the tide—and the beautiful sea prospect, with vessels steaming and sailing to and from the mouth of the Thames, render it truly picturesque.

About twenty-two years ago the Primitive Methodist missionaries first preached the gospel at Warden. The inhabitants listened to the truth spoken, some of them received it into their hearts. A small society was formed, and from that time until recently, religions services have been conducted in various cottages. Considerable inconvenience has, however, at times been felt for want of a permanent place of worship.

When the writer came to this station in July, 1860, he found the society anxious about a chapel, and £3 10s. had been collected for that purpose. At the December Quarterly Meeting of the same year, it was resolved that efforts be made to secure a plot of land on which to erect a chapel. After much difficulty we succeeded in obtaining an eligible site, 20 feet frontage by 40 feet in depth, on a lease for fifty years, at £ I per annum ground rent.

About the same time a weather board building in Sheerness was offered for sale, which the trustees believed might be conveyed to Warden, and converted into a neat little chapel. Accordingly application was made to the building committee, and sanction obtained to purchase the building in question. It was purchased for the sum of £20, taken to Warden, and placed on a foundation of brick work 2 feet 6 inches. An entirely new roof was put upon it, covered with the best duchess slates, with a cement ridge and iron spouting. The sanctuary is 27 feet 6 inches long by 14 feet wide, and 10 feet 6 inches from the floor to the wall plate.

The chapel was opened for Divine worship on Sunday, December 5^th, 1861, when two sermons were preached by the Rev. W. H. Smith, Independent minister of Sheerness. On Monday, December 9th, a tea-meeting was held, when about 90 persons partook thereof. After tea a public meeting was held. Mr. T.Brightman (Wesleyan), of Queenborough, took the chair, and addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. Samson (Congregationalist), Messrs. R. Barron, J. Studds, and G. Beardsall. On Sunday, December 15th, the Rev. J. Bolam (Wesleyan), preached twice. The collections and profits of tea amounted to £5 18s. The total cost of the building, including deeds is about £78, towards which sum we have realised £34, and intend making it up to about £40 by Midsummer. Reuben Barron.”

I couldn’t see a Primitive Methodist chapel in or near Warden on the Isle of Sheppey on late Nineteenth Century Ordnance Survey maps and initially wondered where was it and what happened to it? Thanks to Malcolm Victor Gladwin for the information – see comment.

Reference

Primitive Methodist magazine 1862 pages 172-173