Alford Primitive Methodist chapel 1820
Ranters Row, Alford
The first Primitive Methodist chapel in Alford was built in a street that is now known as Ranters Row, but unfortunately it is not easy to identify which, if any of the existing buildings it was. Helpfully though, the street falls within the Alford conservation area, and there are building notes. These identify the first chapel as 1 Ranters Row.
The chapel was built in 1820 as a chapel, but sold to the Baptists in 1837 when the second chapel was built.
The notes remark that ‘the building has been heavily altered’ but that the rear elevation consists in part of a structure of handmade bricks, which is considered to be part of the original fabric.
Quirkily the house now has a sign saying that nothing happened here in September 1782. Primitive Methodist history tells us that it did in 1820 though.
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Regarding another Ranters Row but that one later renamed, go to Binbrook on this site.
Kind regards, Ray & Marie.
We remain neutral regarding a PM chapel on a row later named Ranters Row, be it purpose-built or a property altered, but again we emphasise the row is where first preaching was and gatherings/meetings and inclement weather a roof over-head.
Sarah ministering :
We have decided to be brief regarding a Sarah who was a domestic servant to Lord Young, the Squire influenced by her and he becoming a contributor to the Primitive Methodist Connexion.
To read more you can go to this Link :
https://archive.org/details/00989104.1087.emory.edu/page/449/mode/2up?q=young&view=theater
Kind regards, R&M.
The National Archives ( previously The Public Record Office ) : ref. HLG 23/12559, maps, plans, Alford U.D.C., to include Ranters Row, c.1937 ( housing confirmation order).*
* listed private, contents not viewed.
Kind regards, Ray & Marie.
The Primitive Methodist Magazine, vol. X111 new series, vol. LX1 from commencement, year 1890 :
Page 57, briefly mentions “Wainfleet a place that formed part of the late Spilsby station * was recently attached to the Alford station* “.
*circuits.
Page 250, Alford Chapel, a mention some 40 adults had decided on Christ, etc.
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The Spilsby circuit was taken into caretaking c.1889/90 by the Leake circuit but also the Alford circuit, the central circuit Chapel in Alford having more responsibility from c. 1860 after a separate formation from the Louth circuit.
Kind regards,
Ray & Marie.
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Alford was within the Louth circuit, then later became a central PM Chapel on South Street with its own circuit and apart from any repairs there was a need for alterations and enlargement has per the PM magazine articles imply.
Kind regards,
Ray & Marie.
Additional, after 1852.
Primitive Methodist Magazine, vol. X[IV?] of third series, vol. XXXV11, from commencement, year 1856 :
Pages for Alford to include enlargement of Alford Chapel, page 618 by W. Marwood.
Kind regards,
Ray & Marie.
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Additional :
The date of the PM Magazine is year 1838, regarding travels of J. Stamp in 1836, his mention of a foundation stone would be when building the Chapel* was near completion or after.
Regards, Ray & Marie.
Primitive Methodist Magazine, vol. V111, new series, year 1836 :
Some pages to include Alford, e.g., Journal of John Stamp and his prompted travels and on page 184 for “Friday Oct. 14 – Spoke on foundation-stone of Alford chapel”.
By then the PM Connexion had a 1837 certification for a Chapel.
The Primitive Methodist Magazine, third series v.33 , year 1852:
Pages to include Alford PM Chapel and giving explanations about the Alford PM Chapel.*
* to imply a replacement of earlier date stone, South Street; newer date 1852.
Kind regard, Ray & Marie.
Good afternoon Philip.
We have suggested updates regarding some chapels not via heritage-explorer but direct personal emails and with some appreciably-updated.
The heritage-explorer is good and useful but for ML19910 has words “possibly” and ” so likely fell out of use before 1889″. This is speculation rather actually knowing.
We have concern about the image at least on this page, hoping the image is within pleasing appropriations with the present owners of number 1 Ranters Row.
Kind regards,
R&M.
Many O. S. maps do depict religious meeting places, churches, halls, chapels, etc.
We are not aware of any contemporary ( has it happened) Government O.S. maps, e.g., 6 inch or 25 inch scale, etc for Alford* in Lincolnshire before c.1887 ( but could be ) or if Ranters Row is written on them even if located, making note that the c.1887 map does give a cited Ranters Row written as such but no mention of a chapel, etc., yet an implication it was named such because of the-cometh of the Primitive Methodists to Alford.
* not the Alford in Scotland.
The image for number 1 Ranters Row was not from us.
Kind appropriations and regards, R&M.
Post-script : Sarah of Alford still pending.
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A full set of photographs, and description of this chapel may be found, as David Leese states, on the Heritage Environment record https://heritage-explorer.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Monument/MLI99210
We are aware of what you cite David and our own findings and was number 1 on what became Ranters Row purpose built to be a Chapel for the Baptists or the Primitive Methodists, or already built and or adapted for one or both religious denominations, also any property deeds for number 1 would be private and would present day owners be more aware of their property’s history.
However, on a Google map/street view (many areas still to be update) number 1 Ranters Row can be seen to have arched bricks over the garage door; if it is such a door now and arched bricks over window, etc., an implication that there may have previously been arched windows and a arched door. Also, if viewing other side of the Row there is a building with arched brickwork over doors; an early picture of it cited to be for the Prims first gatherings, but apparently no arched brickwork on picture.
Pending posting regarding a certain Sarah of Alford area who at a gathering of the Prims became one herself, yet already learned to do ministering and aware of Primitive Methodism gender-equality to be trained in preaching; frowned-upon then and later by many.
Kind regards, Ray & Marie.
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Have gone back and checked the given sources for the Conservation building notes in respect of this property, building record ML199210.
These include, old maps, Colin Shepherdson’s detailed work on Chapels in the East Lincolnshire circuit, RW Ambler and various digital archives.
These apparently conclude with the identity of the site of 1 Ranters Row.
A building can be used for any meetings, be there religious or not and not necessarily purpose built.
When preaching Primitive Methodists first came to Alford the gatherings has said previously were in an open space or a building not then purpose built, the area later becoming known as Ranters Row and later O.S. maps name it, the first Primitive evangelizing Methodist’s critics having referred to them “Ranting” has in other areas where preaching started, hence Ranters Row. The year 1837 application and granted Primitive Methodist certificate for a Chapel place of worship was not at their first gatherings, so a later purpose built Chapel on a lane not called Ranters Row then but a building used or adapted a possibility, so conjectural, making note though there are other certificates for non-conformist Alford chapels but only the year 1837 for allowing Primitive Methodists a Chapel for them usually naming a trustee for it. However, some such certificates for non-conformists in Alford do not specify religious denomination, be they Baptist etc., so we don’t say yes or no to Ranters Row having a purpose built PM Chapel previously being Baptist and would another name be used for the row, the first Baptists in the area using buildings not purpose built for them.
The critical insult was a turn around so to-speak and some later Primitive Methodists using the term Ranters amongst themselves.
Ranters Row’s significance respectfully is the coming of Primitive Methodism to Alford areas, making note the cited later information known by us and more we found at Lincoln Archives when visiting there make us non-conclusive.
Kind regards, Ray & Marie. ( Æ ).
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Thank you for these comments. May I observe the following:
1 The wording of my original listing is carefully taken from the conservation area building records for Alford (these are available on line) and emphasise that the Baptists used the ‘chapel’ building when vacated by the Primitives. They also show the rear elevation with the handmade bricks which I was unable to get access to, which would indicate major alterations.
2 Kendall on page 451 refers to the original building as ‘Alford chapel (past)’ – not as a meeting house, or preaching place, but clearly not purpose built. I am not sure a chapel always equates with being purpose built. Elsewhere I am familiar with a terraced house that is a Methodist chapel still in use.
* in Alford.
Extra, thus :
https://maps.nls.uk/view/114648855
Government O.S. map, 25 inch scale, Lincolnshire, LXI.15, surveyed 1887, published in 1889, to include Alford. Top left of map enlarge to view. Ranters Row is shown and not on Ranters Row is the nearby Methodist Free Church/Chapel, the Primitive Methodist Chapel for South Street also shown; certification for the chapel year 1837.
Kind regards, Ray & Marie. ( Æ ).
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Lincolnshire Archives, Lincoln :
For Chapel Worship.
ref. DIOC/DISS/4/1837/5, Certificate of non-conformist Chapel, Alford, Primitive Methodist, 1837.
H.B. Kendall, The Origin & History of the Primitive Methodist Church ( see photo of his citing of building, it not purpose built on Ranters Row in other section for Alford ).
Mr. David Leese states it is not easy to identify and we agree.
The cited certificate is for a Chapel, year 1837.
The first Primitive Methodists meetings were in an open space and also available buildings, especially the latter when inclement weather, this be the case in Alford on what became Ranters Row.
The open-spaces and a convenient building for gatherings of the Primitive Methodists to convert people had given them a quick recognition from critics, i.e., “they are always ranting on”, etc., hence called Ranters.
A purpose built Primitive Methodist Chapel on Ranters Row may have been so or conjectural, However, Ranters Row is significant for the First open-space gatherings for Primitive form of Methodism Christian faith.
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