Apperknowle Primitive Methodist chapel
High Street, Apperknowle, Derbyshire S18 4BD
Apperknowle Primitive Methodist chapel in High Street was opened in 1879 and is still open today (2014), the only church in the village. Primitive Methodist chapels elsewhere in the parish of Dronfield and in neighbouring Unstone have closed. It is possibly the chapel with the best views in the English midlands from its front door.
However, the 1877 1:2,500 Ordnance Survey map shows two Primitive Methodist chapels – the 1879 on one pictured here and one called Ebenezer which was located at the junction of Barrack Road and Chapel Lane, almost opposite the junction with Quarry Road. There is an account by TE Page of the opening of what I take to be this chapel in the Primitive Methodist magazine of 1862.
He tells us that the village had been missioned some thirty years previously. A plot of land was bought from Mr Ward for £10 and J Sharman laid the foundation stone of the new chapel on June 24th 1861. Opening preachers at the services and tea for 150 included Messrs. J. and W. Sharman, (father and son, both natives of the village), W Sapcoat and W Thomas.
The chapel seated 150, had a boarded floor and slate roof, and cost £150 of which £90 had been raised. It measured 24’10” x 24’4″.
On the site now are old cottages; do they include the former chapel?
The 1874 Primitive Methodist magazine tells us that Apperknowle Primitive Methodist chapel was one of five chapels in the Chesterfield circuit that had cleared its outstanding debt. Not only that but they were raising funds for a new and much larger chapel. It appears that in 1879 they were successful.
Reference
Primitive Methodist magazine January 1862 pages 47-48
Primitive Methodist magazine 1874 page 755
Comments about this page
Unusually, the 1877 Ordnance Survey maps shows two Primitive Methodist chapels in the village but no other place of worship. It seems the map was surveyed just at the point when one chapel was closing and a replacement opening.
Dorothy,
Thanks for your comment on this page. We would be delighted to receive any photographs you have that could be aded to this page. If you can scan them and send them in jpg format to the e-mail address of Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum, we will be able to upload them.
engleseabrook-methodist-museum@supanet.com
Regarding records from the chapel, if they still exist they should be lodged in the county archive. The type of record you might find would be trustee’s meeting minutes and Sunday school records. Baptismal records may be held in the name of the chapel or in the records of the Primitive Methodist Circuit.
My grandmother attended this chapel and I do actually remember going to it on one of my visits to my cousins who lived in Quarry Road.
Is there anyway I can access any photos of the people who attended the chapel and/or records of same.
I have a photo of my grandmother during some sort of celebration – do not have it to hand at present but thing it may be Christmas – is there somewhere I can send it to if you are interested. I also think I have a book that was presented to my grandmother but it may be a school prize, again not to hand at present but will look up when I get back home.
Regards
Dorothy Walker
PS My grandmother was Annie BROOKFIELD and her father was Frederick Thomas, mother Hannah nee SMITH and they moved to Apperknowle from Sheffield about 1900. All children after my grandmother b 1899 were born there and my uncle lived there until comparatively recent – again can let you know if you want. He is the one who converted the two cottages into a single dwelling. All my grandfather’s ancestors were born in either Apperknowle or Coal Aston area.
Add a comment about this page