Coanwood Primitive Methodist chapel

This chapel was added to My Primitive Methodists  in June 2020 as an Anonymous chapel.  All we had at the time was an undated postcard provided by Randle Knight which showed the date on the chapel itself, 1863. Thanks to Laura Robson  in the comment below for identifying it as Lanehead, Coanwood, in Northumberland.

Thanks too to Richard Macdonald for further pictures and newspaper cuttings about the chapel and its people.

The Christian World of Friday June 3rd 1864 reported the first service held in the chapel:

West Coanwood, Northumberland – At this place the opening services of another new Primitive Methodist chapel with a comfortable vestry, have just taken place, The edifice approaches nearest to the Gothic style of architecture and is remarkably neat.  The site was kindly given by Mrs Pattison of Lane-Head and the building was erected by voluntary contributions.  It is a great ornament to the locality, and, it is hoped, will prove a great blessing to the surrounding neighbourhood.  A soirée was held on Saturday, the 21^st ult., followed by a public meeting.

Fifteen years later, the Alston Herald (April 19 1879) reported the chapel’s Sunday school anniversary:

Coanwood: PRIMITIVE METHODIST SABBATH SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY

– The anniversary of the above Sabbath School was celebrated on Good Friday, when a public tea was held.  Previous to the tea the scholars formed in order and processioned the neighbourhood, singing in suitable public places. In the evening a public meeting was held, presided over by Mr Wm. Ellerington. Mr W. A. Bell, Mr J Wilkinson, Mr J Richardson and Mr S Gilchrist gave addresses, and several dialogues and pieces were recited by the scholars. On Easter Sunday, Mr J. Wilkinson, of Sunderland, preached  two able sermons to good congregations and in the afternoon a children’s service was held, when the scholars sang hymns and recited a selection of pieces and dialogues. Mr C. Armstrong presided at the harmonium. A collection was taken at the close of each service on behalf of the school fund. The services were quite a success.

Further newspaper cuttings give accounts of:

• A sacred concert and supper held on New Year’s Eve 1897: North Cumberland Reformer 08 January 1898
• A Coffee supper and presentation: 1877 Hexham Courant

What was the chapel called?  Laura calls it Lanehead, the name used on one of Richard’s pictures.  The various newspaper articles call it Coanwood and West Coanwood.  One picture calls it Lanehead Seive Hill.  The 1940 list of Methodist buildings calls it West Coanwood – and records it as brick built, with a single room which could accommodate 160 people on pews.  In 1840 it was in the Haltwhistle circuit.

Satellite imagery 2024 shows the boundary wall of the chapel still in existence, but trees on the actual site of the building.  Street View in 2023 shows a board offering the site for sale.

Interestingly the 1940 inventory also records a Wesleyan Methodist chapel at East Coanwood in the Haltwhistle circuit.  This was stone built, with a Sunday school room and a further room; it seated 200 people on pews.  That chapel still exists at Stonehouse in residential use (NE49 0QN).