Leyland Primitive Methodist chapel

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Leyland Primitive Methodist chapel

The story behind the establishment of Leyland Primitive Methodist chapel is told in the 1869 Primitive Methodist magazine.

“Leyland is a very ancient Lancashire village, some six miles south of Preston, and has been the scene of much earnest toil on the part of Primitive Methodism for many years. For want of a suitable place of worship, however, our success has been limited.

A better day is dawning at last, as we have recently secured land in a very good situation, and now a neat and substantial building, ten yards by eight, is erected, which is to serve for chapel and Sunday-school. It contains eight pews, a good proportion of free sittings, is well lighted, has a vestry, with other conveniences, and enough spare land to enlarge our borders when needful, secured to us by connexional deed enrolled in Chancery.

Opening sermons were preached— on August 29th by the writer and Mr. Whitehead, of Preston (Wesleyan local preacher) ; on September 5th the Rev. J. Hall, the Rev. J.Travis, and J. Haslam, Esq., officiated ; and the whole of the opening services concluded on September 11th by a very pleasant tea-meeting, at which we had expressions of much brotherly feeling by various speakers from different sections of the Church of Christ, under the presidency of Councillor Sowerbutts.

The entire cost will be about £190, and the income so far is about £135. When we say our society did not number a dozen members, and these not wealthy, your readers will infer that we have had some willing hands and generous hearts engaged. This we gladly acknowledge, and heartily thank our many benefactors. ” The people had a mind to work,” and we wish all erections were completed with as little care as this has been, so far as our ministers are concerned. You will be glad to know that a number of souls have already been converted in this new sanctuary. That this good work may go on is the prayer of T. Doody.”

In the 1892 magazine we are told of the laying of foundation stones for a new chapel. It was to cost around £1,000, of which they expected to have raised half by the opening.

The 1893 Ordnance Survey map shows a Primitive Methodist chapel on Leyland Lane. Street View in 2009 shows the chapel building retaining its Primitive Methodist carved stones. By 2018 it has become the Orthodox Church of the Holy Apostles and the stone carving covered

Reference

Primitive Methodist magazine 1869 page 692

Primitive Methodist magazine 1892 November page 701