Elton Primitive Methodist Chapel

Elton is now a suburb of Bury, lying about ¾ mile WNW of the town centre.

1868:  The Bury Archives hold records for Elton PM chapel starting in 1868 (CEL).

1869:  According to the book ‘Manufactory, Methodism and the Making of a Village: Summerseat 1700-1988’ by Jean Price, 1989, p.20, the 1830 Wesleyan chapel in Summerseat was replaced by a new and much bigger chapel in 1847.  ‘The old and new chapels continued to stand next to each other, the old chapel being used as a Sunday School until 1863, when the new Day School and Sunday School was built.  The old building remained empty until 1869, when it was demolished and the beams and other material used in the new Primitive Methodist Chapel in Elton.’

The chapel can be seen on the 1890 OS Town Plan; it is labelled as ‘Methodist Chapel (Primitive) Seats for 330’; it scales at about 27 feet wide x 35 feet deep, and is adjoined on the north side by a Sunday School about 22 feet wide x 35 feet.

1880:  The Bury Times of 22 May reported:

PRIMITIVE METHODIST, ELTON. –No. of scholars: Females 53, males 47, total 100.  Teachers: Females 8, males 6, total 14.  Procession through the principal streets of Bury, to a field belonging to Mr. Eastham, Littlewood Cross.  Band – Radcliffe Brass Band.  Refreshments – Buns and coffee.  Amusements -Cricket and other sports.  Excursion in connection with Walmersley-road school [north Bury].’

1940:  The chapel was listed in the 1940 Methodist Church Buildings Report Districts ‘B’, Circuit 228 Bury and Ramsbottom. The following information was provided:

Elton (Wellington Street): made of brick; seating 300; pews; one hall and four other rooms.

1960:  The Bury Archives hold records including baptisms up to 1960 (CEL).  Is this the date of the chapel’s closure?

The site of the chapel was at the junction of Brooksmouth with Wellington Street, now occupied by Wellington Street Car Sales, Bury BL8 2BD.