Newport Primitive Methodist Chapel 1876, Shropshire

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Jug presented to John Clews and repeatedly auctioned to pay hid fines

Englesea Brook collection

Information about this chapel can be viewed by following the link to Shropshire’s Nonconformist Chapels.

The 1897 Primitive Methodist magazine tells us that a new schoolroom was about to be erected.

In the collection of the Primitive Methodist Museum at Englesea Brook is a pewter jug with an inscription round the neck:

Presented to Mr John Clews by the Primitive Methodist Society, Newport, Salop on his leaving the town July 1893.

There is a second inscription on the foot:

Seized under the Education Act 1902 and sold March 16 1906.

The Act favoured Anglican schools, and Mr Clews was one of many nonconformists who consequently refused to pay part of their rates and became known as passive resistors. It was not that they objected to supporting Anglican schools, but they felt that the money should be equally available to all schools. As the inscription records, the jug was sold by auction, it was purchased by a supporter of the resistors and given back to Mr Clews. In the case of the cruet set this process was repeated over several years.

Reference

Primitive Methodist magazine September 1897 page 395