The density of coverage of Primitive Methodist places of worship in 1867

In 1867 the Registrar General published a list of nonconformist chapels registered for public worship. The list contained 2,879 buildings registered for Primitive Methodist services.

Registration was not compulsory, however, and to what extent the published list may be regarded as a true indication of the strength of Primitive Methodism at that time, 50 years after the mission began, involves consideration of the fact that it was reported to the Primitive Methodist Conference in 1867 that the Connexion had 3,118 chapels and a further 3,192 places of worship. The situation is further complicated by some duplication of registration.

The 2,879 registered places of Primitive Methodist worship have been listed and mapped by county on this site. It is also worth taking an overview. The map on this page shows the density of Primitive Methodist places of worship across England and Wales: the area served by chapels. There are a number of points to note.

• The high density of chapels in the counties surrounding the birthplace of Primitive Methodism in the North-West, spreading into both industrial West and rural East Yorkshire.
• The high density in the two contrasting areas of the Durham mining areas, both coal and iron, and rural Norfolk. Methodism in Norfolk was predominantly Primitive Methodism.
• The well provisioned swath of rural counties along the chalk escarpment, from Salisbury Plain to the East Yorkshire cliffs.
• The lack of provision, marking a lack of impact, in the South-East, South-West and rural North of England.
• The clear division between Welsh and English speakers in Wales: Primitive Methodism was an English denomination.
• The scale of the mapping, which is at county level. At Registration District level the picture is more complex. Please refer to the county maps elsewhere to see the variations in coverage.