Soham and Soham Fen Primitive Methodist Chapels
Cambridgeshire
The first PM Chapel in Soham, Cambridgeshire, was opened in 1841 and was attended by about 230 people. Then a new chapel was built in 1869, which can be seen in the picture. This chapel is still in use by the Methodist congregation today. Several of the foundation stones were laid by people with the surname ‘Collen’, which was my great-grandmother’s maiden name. She was brought up on a farm in Great Fen Drove, three miles north of Soham.
The second picture shows the PM Chapel at Soham Fen. This is actually smaller than the chapel in Soham, but built in exactly the same style. The original chapel in Soham Fen was built, probably of wood, in 1843, and then rebuilt in brick and stone in 1872 with 164 seats. This chapel was still in use until the 1990’s but has since been sold and is now a private dwelling. The Circuit Archivist has found a record of the baptisms at this chapel which include my great-grandmother’s name: 16 June 1858, Martha Ann Collen, born 12 May 1858 to James and Emily Elizabeth Collen. One of the foundation stones of this chapel was laid by John Collen, who was probably her grandfather.
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I have read the recent comments on Soham Fen Methodist Chapel and the information I have may clarify the situation. The list of baptisms at Soham Fen Chapel, supplied to me by George Ginn of Soham, who copied them before sending the register to Cambridgeshire Archives, begins on 9th March 1845. This is the baptism of Matilda Pope (born 24.10.1844). This suggests a chapel was in existence then, probably the wooden structure mentioned in my comment. It would easily have fallen into disrepair, considering the harsh weather conditions out on the Fen. By 1849 repairs would have been needed and an extension to provide more accommodation as the congregation was growing. Possibly there were two special services for these different aspects. The brick and stone chapel which we see would have been unlikely to have been opened before the years that followed the opening of the new chapel in Soham in 1869, as it is an exact (but smaller) copy of that building. So 1872 is a likely date.
John Phillips of Chapel House, Soham reports in the 1849 Primitive Methodist magazine (pages 179-180) that a new chapel had been opened at Soham Fen on December 1st 1848. Preachers Rev J Green (Baptist) and Rev W Yeadon.
Mr J Collins gave the site. They had raised a third of the cost, but it was worth it as every seat was full and they were about to form a Sunday school.
In the he 1849 Primitive Methodist magazine there are two references to developments at Soham: are they different or differing accounts of the same development?
On page 179 John Phillips reports that because of rising congregations and the dilapidated state of the chapel, they “thought it necessary to improve and enlarge.” Alterations costing £60 were completed in September 1848 and preachers at the re-opening were John Phillips and R Key. They had raised £54 towards the cost.
On page 750 J Thurgur tells us that the chapel has been enlarged by the addition of a 10′ x 33′ Sunday school “with sliding shutters so that it is connected and disconnected with the chapel as circumstances require”.
The opening preacher on October 7th was J Phillips and they raised the money within eight weeks. Jonas Clark and friends carried the materials for free.
Thanks to Raymond Ella for identifying in the Cambridgeshire Community Archive Network a Centenary booklet to mark the 100 years of the Soham Primitive Methodist Chapel Berrycroft. You can see it here.
The building is presently in need of underpinning, tilting somewhat to the south!, and it is hoped to place it into a Trust and privately fund its restoration as a church.
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