A chapel in St. Owen Street, Hereford, was opened in 1838 by the Primitive Methodist society which had been formed in 1826. In 1829 they hired a “good upper room in a suitable part of the city”. After a while they suffered from a number of young men” regularly resorting thither intentionally to amuse each other, and amuse the congregation, by swearing, wrestling, upsetting the forms, extinguishing the candles”: and many other vices too bad to name were carried on with impunity”. John Richards, stationed there by the connexion, sought and received help from the local magistrates, and from then on the society started to grow.
In 1837 they bought a plot for a chapel for £90. The plans for a chapel 35′ x 34′ externally were prepared, for free, by Mr W Heather. Mr Stone was the builder. The chapel opened on June 24th and 25th 1838. Preachers at the range of services and activities included John Richards, Bros Higginson, Pressdee, J Petty, and Revs Woodward, T Ford, and S Franklin. Hugh Bourne re-opened the chapel on July 22nd 1838. Donors included three MPs (R Price, K Hoskins, EB Clive) and R Buldulph.
As the society grew, they needed more room and in 1859 the chapel was enlarged by the addition of a circular gallery and a second storey on the schoolroom, which meant the premises could hold an extra 200 people.
The alterations cost £200 of which £170 had been raised by the time of the re-opening, which was reported in the Primitive Methodist magazine by Thomas Hobson, who commented how generous were givers of all denominations.
They used the Town Hall (for free) whilst the work went on and held re-opening services and a tea meeting for a very impressive 500 people, starting from July 17th 1859. Preachers included Rev R Hartley (Bristol) and Messrs T Hobson, Hartley, T Powell (Malmesbury) and J Shephard.
The 1838 chapel was replaced in 1880 and you can see a picture of the later chapel here. The 1838 chapel then became a Salvation Army Citadel and later passed into commercial use. In 2023 it is in use as Chapel House Dentistry.
OS grid ref: SO 5160 3965
Reference
Primitive Methodist magazine 1840 page 129.
Primitive Methodist magazine October 1859 page 630
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My great great grandmother was baptised on 7th April 1836 at Union Street, Primitive Methodists Hereford. This appears to be two years before the building in St Owen Street – does anyone know anything about this earlier building?
It is now a dentist surgery called Chapel House dental surgery.
Thanks for the extra information Iain. Any chance of a picture?
The old Primitive Methodist Chapel still stands about 500 yds up the road away from the town centre, just past the traffic lights. Until a few months ago it was a launderete.
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