Oakley Primitive Methodist Chapel, Hampshire

a chapel, and a local preacher

David Young
Rachel Larkinson

Before 1866 the Primitive Methodists in Oakley met in two cottages, later known as Hunters Moon. A plot of land was purchased for worship in 1866, opposite the village pond, and the chapel in the photograph was built. It is in the Basingstoke Circuit.

It was there that I preached my first sermon on Sunday, 10th January, 1965, on the text Isaiah 53:6, using (as we all did in those days) the 1611 Authorised Version:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

An elderly local preacher called Leonard Wardell had, I think, been grooming me with a view to the pulpit, inviting me to accompany him on his services and to read the reading, or lead the service, or give a testimony of my conversion. That day he had invited me to preach the sermon and he would lead the service. We arrived on my motorbike, with him on the pillion seat.

He always found time for me, and would take me into his sitting room in Basingstoke, open the Bible to me, and pray with me, as well as guiding me into a preaching ministry when he felt the time was ripe. I record my gratitude to him.

From the journal of Isaac Septimus Nullis, 1866

Sunday, 3rd June:

I assisted Br[other] G[eorge] Wallis in the opening Services of a neat little Chapel at East Oakley, in the Basingstoke Circuit. At night the power of God was blessedly felt, and six souls were rescued from the hands of the destroyer.

Comments about this page

  • My ongoing relationship with Primitive Methodism, of which Oakley was somewhat formative, being the location of my first ever preaching, as well as about Methodism more widely, can be read about in website https://primitivemethodism.wordpress.com/ (which despite the title of the website, it is not wholly about the Prims!). Oakley has a special place in my memories.

    By David Young (30/08/2017)
  • I have a photograph of this chapel too, which must date back to when my grandfather (Rev F.C.Davidson) was minister in the Basingstoke Circuit (1921-4). It does not look very different, except a notice-board has been added since my photo was taken. I will submit it for interest and hope the editor can link it up.

    (Editor’s note: You can see Rachel Larkinson’s picture above).

    By Rachel Larkinson (26/06/2012)

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