Lee Common Primitive Methodist Church, Buckinghamshire

Lee Common PM chapel

Lee Common was missioned from the Chesham Mission established by William Pole in 1836.  A Primitive Methodist meeting was registered at Lee Common in 1836 and the chapel was built in 1839.  When it was built it also functioned for many years as the village school.

Circuit

The society was in the High Wycombe PM Circuit until 1951 when the churches in the Amersham and Chesham area formed the Amersham Methodist Circuit.

Today

The chapel is still in use, and has a service most Sundays usually at 3 pm in the afternoon.

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  • David Tonks has transcribed this account by John Guy of the opening of Lee Primitive Methodist chapel from the Primitive Methodist magazine of December 1842 (page 456):

    Lee.—Our chapel here is thirty feet long and eighteen wide.  It was opened about midsummer, 1839.  It cost one hundred and fourteen pounds, and about fourteen pounds were collected.  There are no pews.  It is fitted up with rail-backed seats, and benches.  The seats let well, and more than pay the interest.  At the anniversary, July 18, 1841, we introduced the Golden System, and eight pounds five shillings were promised for the next year.  I came here in July, 1840, and found there was something wanting; namely, a sabbath school.  I laid the matter before the quarterly meeting: and being planned here on Sunday, October 4, 1840, on that day the school was opened; and since then two of the boys have been removed to the paradise of God.  The school has increased to about fifty scholars, and has been a blessing to the society and congregation.  O Lord, watch over it, and make it a blessing as long as the sun and moon endure.

    On Sunday, October 17, 1841, a protracted meeting was commenced at Lee.  The services were powerful through the day.  On Monday afternoon we held a tea meeting in behalf of the chapel.  We thought of speaking while the friends were taking tea; but it was a trial of faith to begin.  As the brethren wished me to speak first, I began, and succeeded better than I expected.  Brother Isaac Hedges and George Adey followed; and mean while there was a glorious outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Some of our friends who had heard me speak of Mr. Hugh Bourne preaching at Burghfield, in May, 1840, while the friends were taking tea, wished to see it so themselves; and on this occasion we found it practicable to take food, drink tea, and shout glory between times.  We had also a very powerful service after tea; two souls were converted, and the whole of the society began to rise, by faith, into the power of God.

    Tuesday morning there was much power in prayer.  In the evening, the anxiety of the members for the salvation of sinners much increased, and the hearers were much affected. Wednesday morning, a conflict.  In the evening there was great solemnity amongst the people under the preaching.  Afterward I led a class, desiring the mourners to stay.  Two stayed, and both were set at liberty.  Thursday morning and evening, good times.  Friday evening, a fellowship meeting.  Some spoke of having neglected to warn sinners when they had opportunity; but were minded not to let sin go unreproved.  Others spoke of instances wherein the fear of man had brought them into a snare.  At the opening I desired them to give an account of their experience for the last fortnight.  Several spoke of strong inward conflicts, and heavinesses through manifold temptations.  A few had had great manifestations of glory and of God.  On the whole it was a very profitable meeting to many souls.  Near the close, I told the members that the unconverted had heard their vows and determinations to be faithful with them.  And I told the unconverted that it was a great mercy for them that there was a Primitive Methodist chapel for them to come to, and a society that cared for their souls.  The work of God has been deepening since.  We have forty-five members, and the chapel is usually crowded.”

    The chapel is shown on the Ordnance Survey 25″ plan 1898 at grid reference SP908041.

    You can see the chapel on the Geograph website at http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1309335.

    By Christopher Hill (26/09/2017)

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