Thanks to Rev David Sharp for three pictures of early Twentieth Century groups associated with Clay Cross chapel
- The Men’s Group, known as the Happy Band
- the chapel football team in 1910. On the back row, 6th from the left is Revd Will Brown, who was at Clay Cross 1908-11
- the Sunday school football team
The Christian Messenger tells us a little about the chapel itself:
“In 1849 the present chapel was built. Two cottages were accommodated on the ground floor and a large preaching room above. This was a peculiar arrangement, and soon found to be inconvenient. In 1874 the school was built, and the chapel altered to its present appearance. The church has a membership of about 100, and still does a good deal of real mission work. The school has outgrown its accommodation, but arrangements have been made for enlargement together with class rooms. It is anticipated that the work will be completed by the end of June.”
I wondered were this chapel was as many of the chapels marked on old Ordnance Survey maps of Clay Cross did not have a denomination label. David discovered the answer to the question in his mother’s typescript biography of her Primitive Methodist grandfather, William Thomas Salway. Clay Cross Primitive Methodist Church was in Bridge Street which is where David’s parents were married. Maps show it opposite the end of what was then Eyre Street. The whole area has since been redeveloped.
Reference
Christian Messenger 1910 page 249
Comments about this page
Hi
I’m hoping someone can help. I’m researching my family tree and have discovered that before her marriage to my grandfather, my grandmother was housekeeper to Reverend Morgan in a Methodist Chapel in Clay Cross. This would have most likely been around the 1930’s.
My Grandmothers name was Jessie Simpson.
If anyone has any information / records of this I would be so very happy to hear from you.
Kindest regards
Billie Underwood
The British Architect, vol. 1., January to June, 1874 :
Page 234, Clay Cross.- LAYING CORNER STONES OF NEW SCHOOLS.- On the 30th [March?, announced 10th April] ult. the corner stones of the new schools and classrooms for the Primitive Methodists of this place were laid. A suitable piece of land has been obtained from Clay Cross Company adjoining their chapel in Wingfield Road. Each corner stone had engraved on it the year and also initials of the persons who laid it. Mr. & Mrs. Reuben Bannister, Epthorne, Clay Cross; Mr. William Clarke and Mr. Enoch Bannister of Staveley, each laid one stone.
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