CHAPEL OPENING.
BALLAST HILLS, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE CIRCUIT.
Mr. W. Clowes missioned Ballast Hills in the summer of 1822, on his first arrival in the neighbourhood of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Great numbers attended the preaching, many of whom were converted to God, and a good society was soon formed. And there being no place of worship in that densely populated neighbourhood, the friends contemplated building a chapel in the year 1823, but could not obtain a suitable site of ground.
A small room was rented for two years, and then two rooms were laid together. But this place being very low, and in other respects incommodious, the progress of the society was seriously retarded. The work, at times, broke out in a powerful manner, but from the want of room, no very considerable increase was realized.
In the year 1829, a sabbath school was begun, which soon increased to two hundred and fifty scholars; and then no more could be admitted. Strenuous efforts were made to obtain a plot of ground, but without success.
In the year 1840, Sir M. W. Ridley disposing of part of his estate, we obtained a site in a very eligible situation, but at the enormous price of .twelve shillings a square yard. Unfavourable circumstances, however, prevented us from beginning to build till July, 1841. And many, during this trying time, confidently predicted that a Primitive Methodist chapel would never be erected at Ballast Hills.
On the 17th of July, 1841, the .foundation stone was laid by Mr. R. H. Haggie, of Gateshead ; and a powerful sermon preached to a large and interested audience, by Brother Joseph Spoor, from Darlington. The collection amounted to five pounds.
Previous to this, a very active canvass for subscribers had been commenced, chiefly by Brother R. Cook, leader and local preacher. His masters, “The Broad and Crown Glass Company,” presented him with ten pounds to begin with. C. J. Bigge gave, five pounds. The two members for the borough, W, Ord, Esq., and J. Hard, Esq., two pounds each. R. I. Shafto, Esq., of Bavington Hall, kindly sent us ten pounds. The aldermen of Newcastle, and nearly all the members of the common council, contributed liberally. So before the opening of the chapel, more than one hundred pounds was obtained.
The opening services, November 14th and 15th, 1841, were conducted by Brothers James Watson, from Darlington, and William Eckersall, from South Shields. And on the following Sabbath and Monday evening, by W. and A. Dent, R. S. Stanley, Wesleyan local preacher, and A. Lynn, minister of the Methodist New Connexion. The collections amounted to sixteen pounds six shillings and fivepence.
The chapel is fifteen yards by twelve inside, and sixteen feet high from the floor to the ceiling. It has seven large windows, opening at their tops; and eight beautiful gas-lights. There is a neat porch at the entrance, with two doors opening on each side into the aisles. There are seventeen pews: the singers’ pew in the centre, and four on each side, raised a foot from the floor; and eight in the front, which rise one above another. The chapel will seat four hundred and fifty persons comfortably.
The total cost has been five hundred and sixty pounds; of which sum two hundred pounds have been raised by voluntary subscriptions. And a number of friends have undertaken to pay two hundred and forty pounds by monthly instalments. So the whole debt remaining on the chapel will be only one hundred and twenty pounds.
The chapel is strictly Connexional. And since the opening, the attendance has been very good; and there has been a marked improvement both in the society, the sabbath school, and pecuniary matters. To God be all the glory.— Amen.
W. DENT.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, May 18, 1842.
(Approved by the Circuit Committee.)
A gallery was added to the chapel in 1853. In 1892 it became part of the new Newcastle Third Circuit.
The chapel was in existence until 1955.
Thanks to John Walley for identifying where the chapel was and finding a photo in Kendall’s Origin and History and of the Primitive Methodist Church (volume 2, page 199) – see John’s comment below.
Reference
Primitive Methodist Magazine, 1842 Pages 376-377
Comments about this page
Ballast Hills Primitive Methodist Church, Byker Bank, Newcastle
Newcastle seems to have been the first place on Tyneside at which a Primitive Methodist missionary preached. John Branfoot preached on the Sandhill on 1 August 1821 and in the autumn of that year, William Clowes preached in the open air at Ballast Hills, returning there the following year. Indeed, on 29 July 1822 William Clowes formed a society there of ten people, at first included in the North Shields Primitive Methodist Circuit. However, in December 1823, Newcastle gained its own Circuit. The Society met in the Butchers Hall, then from April 1824 in an old Presbyterian chapel in Sallyport, followed by a former Independent chapel in Silver Street. Finally they moved to Nelson Street in 1838. However, in 1829, W B Leighton started a Sunday School in Ballast Hills which later became a chapel itself. It was built in 1841, with a gallery added twelve years later. In 1892 it became part of the new Newcastle Third Circuit.
The record depositor’s father was a lay preacher at the church and the chapel register was discovered when her mother died recently.
© National Archives Ref C.NC100
This chapel could also have been known as Brewery Bank, the street name was later changed from Brewery Bank to Leighton Street. Not to be confused with Leighton PM Chapel, Heaton Road, Newcastle.
Grid Ref: NZ26416450
Sources:
Ordnance Survey first edition 1865; Peter F Ryder, 2012, Nonconformist Chapels and Meeting Houses in Newcastle and North Tyneside – a survey January/February 2012
My family came from that area way back, so I know it well.
Ballast Hills PM Chapel is at 54.974246418679776, -1.5889722934727046
The location is the centre of the 1898 OS 6″ to the mile map (© CC-BY (NLS))
Ballast Hills itself was the dumping ground for ships ballast, then it became the Graveyard, which was the most important non-conformist burial ground in Newcastle, mainly as it was just outside the original city limits.
Some of my family lived in Quality Row, opposite the chapel, just need a time machine to ask them a few questions.
The Chapel was near the junction of Brewery Bank and Byker Bank at NZ263645.
On 26 November 1841 the ‘Newcastle Courant’ reported that:
A new chapel was opened at the Ballast Hills, near this town, on the 14th inst., by the Primitive Methodists, when sermons were preached, and on Sunday last sermons were again preached on the same occasion. Collections were made at each of the services, amounting to upwards of 20l.
On 26 November 1841 the ‘Newcastle Courant’ reported that:
A new chapel was opened at the Ballast Hills, near this town, on the 14th inst., by the Primitive Methodists, when sermons were preached, and on Sunday last sermons were again preached on the same occasion. Collections were made at each of the services, amounting to upwards of 20l.
There’s a note by WB Leighton about the clearing of debt on this chapel in the Primitive Methodist magazine of June 1873 (pp.376-377). At that time it had 100 members and a Sunday school of 480 children.
Tyne & Wear Archives:
Ref. C. NC100: Ballast Hills. William Clowes preached in the open air 1822, returning the following year to form a society of 10 people, the Preacher John Branfoot having preached at Sandhill 1st August 1821.
Ballast Hills Primitive Methodist Chapel, Byker Bank:
Treasures Accounts 1869-1932, 1933-1952.
Photo of the PM Chapel before demolition, c.1960s.
Baptisms, Accounts, 1842-1932, 1933-1952.
Add a comment about this page