Thanks to Peter Sketch for outlining the story of the Primitive Methodists in Abingdon – see the comment below.
The 1840 Primitive Methodist magazine tells the early part of the story:-
“The town of Abingdon is situated on the west bank of the Thames in the County of Berks, six miles from the city of Oxford and four from the Great Western Railway. It contains upwards of five thousand inhabants, a great number of whom are wicked to a proverb. About six years ago, the P. M. missionaries from Shefford circuit, visited this town, and preached in the open air; numbers flocked to hear, and we trust their labours were blessed to many. Sometime after this, a room was taken at the yearly rent of six pounds ten shillings ; in which divine worship was conducted for about four years; during which period no providential opening appeared for a chapel. But in the beginning of’ the year 1839, land was obtained, and we commenced building in April; and on Sunday, August 4, 1839, this house was dedicated to the service of the Lord, when two sermons were preached, by Sister Price, from Banbury; and one by Bro. T. Tuck, from Brinkworth circuit.
On Monday, Bro. Coxhead and Sister Price preached. The services were well attended. The preachers gave great satisfaction. A good influence accompanied their labours, and the contributions exceeded our expectations.
The chapel is thirty feet six inches by twenty-five inside, eighteen feet six inches high to the ceiling; it has four large windows, with pews for about fifty, and free-sittings for two hundred persons. In addition to this, we have built four cottages, which bring in yearly twenty-three pounds. The whole cost will be about six hundred pounds, towards which we have collected thirty-two pounds one shilling and four- pence halfpenny, leaving on the whole about five hundred and seventy pounds. The yearly rent of the chapel will be less than was formerly paid for a small room. The land is freehold, land-tax redeemed, and the whole is regularly settled on the Connexion, and enrolled in chancery.
We offer our sincere thanks to all who have helped us in this work of’ benevolence and labour of love; praying that the Lord may reward them here and hereafter. Now unto him that is able to perform all that he has promised, be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
THOMAS WILLIAMS.”
Reference
Primitive Methodist magazine 1840 page 300-301
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The 1839 chapel was licenced for nonconformist worship on 23rd July 1839, and is stated to be in The Vineyard. I have added an image of the large scale town plan, surveyed in 1874. On another sheet of the plan both the Ock Street chapel and the Conduit Street chapel are assigned to the Wesleyans, so it would appear that ock Street changed hands in 1875.
Source: ORO Ms Oxf D.c.646/103
The chapel listed in the 1851 census as built in 1839 can be seen on very early OS maps, at the northern end of New Street, north-east of the town centre. It is now long-gone. According to the Victoria County History (Berkshire volume 4) section on Abingdon Borough, the Primitive Methodists at the time it was written were using a former Wesleyan chapel, built in 1845, on Ock Street. This was where the vehicle entrance to the Royal Mail depot is now. The replacement Wesleyan church, which is still in religious use, is described by the VCH as built in 1875, so the move will have been no earlier than that.
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